Yesterday's winter storm dropped a gorgeous light blank of snow on Saddleback Mountain. 

Rancho Santa Margarita and Trabuco Canyon sit on the western base of the Santa Ana Mountain Foothills.  In my 40+ years I've never seen it snow in either RSM or Trabuco Canyon, but I always look forward to seeing snow on Saddleback and I'm always out there trying to get the perfect picture to capture the moment.

It doesn't snow very often on Saddleback Mountain and the snow certainly doesn't stick around for any great length of time.  To get a decent photo of snow on Saddleback Mountain you need to be ready to move fast and hope that several factors come together.

• It needs to be cold...very cold (not a frequent thing in Orange County)
• The storm needs to be packed with a lot of precipitation
• There is a greater percentage of success if there is a heavy snow at night
  
• The storm needs to blow through quickly so skies are clear enough to see the peaks in the morning
  
• Morning shots require shooting into the sun.  An occassional cloud or two off to the side can help with lighting

So, the perfect photo didn't quite happen today.  The gorgeous light blanket of snow on Saddleback was just a little too...well...light.  So...it's back to the drawing board.  Cold rain is in the forecast.  Could we be lucky enough to have snow two days in a row?