B2 on New Year's Day

Well, I haven't done a great deal of hiking over the past three months, but I have had even less time to try to edit and post what hikes I took. So here's a whole bunch of photos, but not much text of my New Year's Day, 2025.

Two separate things. First, on New Year's morning, I drove up to Colorado Blvd.

The Tournament of Roses Parade starts at 8am on New Year's Morning, except when the first is a Sunday, in which case it is held the next day.

As the parade starts, some military flyby usually occurs, right down Pasadena's Colorado Blvd, west to east.

So I parked near where the parade route turns off of Colorado Blvd and heads up Sierra Madre Blvd. I actually ended up parking further away than necessary, because I don't always research these things properly. It was sort of a spur of the moment, but semi-planned things.

So I parked probably a mile away from the route turn, and walked over, arriving at my destination with maybe 15 minutes to spare.

A fair number of people with serious glass were also set up there. So everyone waits and scans to the north and northwest.

The planes make an approach, east to west, a mile or so north of Colorado Blvd, then make a sweeping turn, well west of the parade route, then line up on Colorado Blvd for their flyby. So you look to see them flying to your north, to know get ready for the flyby.

This year, it was a single B-2 Spirit bomber, so we scanned to the north, looking for the distinctive bat-shaped plane. Right on schedule, we saw them, and watched as they made their turn to the east.

I moved about the street, trying to get a clear view, without blocking anyone else's view. There were more trees overhanging the street here than I expected. But that's partially why I wanted to be after the turn; this way, Colorado Blvd is closed to car traffic, but you're not on the actual parade route, so you can stand right in the middle of the road and shoot.

They fly directly at, then over you. Not great at estimating altitude, but I would assume moderately high, as in definitely not tree-top or building height, so maybe up to a thousand feet or so above ground level.

At that altitude, it's not an earthshattering rumble. Also, they're just cruising, so not a lot of engine noise, at least not until they start climbing away.

Later that afternoon, I headed up Rubio Canyon, to the Sam Merrill trail. Decent view over Pasadena and Altadena from about halfway up that trail. That game has traditionally started at 2pm PST, with a military flyover during the national anthem, just a bit after 2pm. From the trail, you're at about flyby altittude.

I got up there, again, with about fifteen minutes to spare, and waited for the flyby. Chatted with another person who made the trip there to shoot the bomber.

I had done something similar two years ago, when it was a pair of B-1 Lancer bombers. Who knows what it'll be like up there next year? The Eaton Fire definitely burned in the area, so even if Sam Merrill and Echo Mountain did not directly burn, I expect the area will be closed to hiking for at least a few years.