San Andreas Fault - Pine Wood Canyon to Palmdale

I drove through Los Angeles February 3rd at 3am, drove west to San Bernardino, slept in my truck, woke up 10 hours later, and drove out to Pine Wood Canyon.  I followed the San Andreas Fault northward to Wrightwood, documenting sag ponds, fault gouge, and the highest point on the fault, over 6000 feet above sea level, at a big rock tower located in Wrightwood.  I then drove down toward the Antelope Valley, taking a detour past Pallett Creek, which is the location of significant fault research, before ending the day in Palmdale.

A sag pond northwest of Wrightwood. Sag ponds form when water collects in depressions created by a fault.

Large rock tower in Wrightwood; the approximate location of the highest point on the San Andreas Fault (over 6000 feet above sea level).

Fault gouge located south of Wrightwood.  Fault gouge is created through the grinding action taking place along a fault.

Fault feature located near Pallett Creek.  Note the two very different rock types on both sides of the fault.

Sign making the location of the San Andreas Fault near Pallett Creek.  The fault runs from the sign toward the depression in the landscape right of center.

Looking south-southwest along the San Andreas Fault. The fault runs up to the mountains in the center of the picture.

The San Andreas Fault crosses the California Aqueduct near Palmdale. Los Angeles could very well be out of water if the fault ruptured along the aqueduct.