An automated weather station has been operating since September on 14250 ft White Mountain Summit, the high point of the White Mountain Range, which is the next range east of the California Sierras. Already it has recorded a wind gust of 154 MPH. I expect it won't be long before they break the current record of 231 MPH held by New Hampshire's Mt. Washington. This can be a very pleasant place to visit in the summer: most scenic drive in California, 4700 year old bristlecone pines, 7.5 mi 3000 ft hike to summit, early July wildflowers. It can also be nasty. On a backpack to Pellisier Flats, I woke up in a well below freezing whiteout at 13000 ft and had to navigate out by compass. http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/weather/wmtn.html http://www.wmrs.edu/ http://www.sonic.net/bristlecone/ Gene __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/