Where most Angelenos and Orange Countians were prepping for their Super Bowl Parties, I wanted to hit the trail. For me, hiking trumps anything else, and people who know me that beside family, hiking comes first, and everything else falls in line behind it. I did come across a few groups of hikers as well with the same idea in mind. My hike started at about 5:30 am in total darkness and drizzle at the Mt. Wilson Trailhead at the corner of Mira Monte and Mt. Wilson Rd, basically at the bottom of the mountain, and made the long, arduous climb up in drizzle, rain, fog, and dripping trees up to the slushy heights of the mountain top, where it was raining over the slushy snow making a slippery walk to the pavilion at the closed Cosmic Cafe. The high point is one of the landscaped mounds near the pavilion, so I hit all 3 to make sure I hit the summit. There are a few creek crossings on the trail, especially in rainy weather, so beware. The fog and the forest would have made for awesome photos, and anyone who has read my logs knows that I love posting my pics. But, my camera got wet, and my photos are lousy, but I will post a few here. It is quite a shame, since the trail is unreal. It is gorgeous, a true botanist's delight. There are large Canyon Live Oaks, California Bay Laurels, Bigleaf Maples, and many, many lofty Bigcone Douglas-Firs. The trees dripping in the fog and rain made for a Pacific Northwest feel. But, beware of poison oak up to about 5,200', as it is all on the side of the trail, and along the upper trail after the Toll Road portion, the burned area from a small Oct. 2017 blaze has a bunch of Poodle Dog Bush sprouting, some right on the edge of the path, so beware! I did have a poncho, but a cheap-o one, and I returned to my car at about 4PM totally soaked head to toe!!!!!! The downhill return can be a little tough on the knees also. But, despite the camera being wet, it is a totally gorgeous scene! Photos can only so much to express the real beauty of the area anyways!!