Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board MT. BALDY 03/21/04

With the harsh winter conditions and deaths this year at Mt. Baldy and surrounding areas, I thought I'd report current Mt. Baldy conditions for those interested. My son and one of his friends summited Baldy on Sunday via the Baldy notch and backbone trail.

We walked right up the western ski slope from the notch with the smallest of snow patches only in shady areas. At the top of the lift there was about three feet of snow with intermittent dirt patches all the way to and over Devil's Backbone. The narrow trail (narrower than usual) with exposure following Devil's Backbone showed some winter damage and had a forty yard length of easy walking compact snow. In this area it is clear that during the peak of this harsh winter without crampons you'd be gone down the mountain in an instant.

The trail was mostly dirt until we rounded the bend with a view of the summit ascent where hiking was fun and easy through well tamped/tracked snow. Most of the way up the final ascent was snow free (except on the eastern edge) with light snow to walk through in bowls near the top. The summit was pleasantly snow covered.

On the summit, there were hikers from Bear Canyon trail and San Antonio Falls trail. A few had crampons and ice axes that were not needed. Two hikers approached the top with snow shoes they said they really didn't need but used since they were carrying them anyway…

It was a perfect day, clearly not a danger to hike Mt. Baldy on this trail at present. The boys slid down the snow bowls all they could on descent.

A perfect adventure,

rlfstop

which route did you take and how long where you on it.

Thinking of going this weekend

Just goes to show you how fast conditions change. I was on Baldy on 2/28, and turned back due to deep snow (I didn't bring snowshoes). I went back on 3/6 and found that a lot of snow had melted, and what was left was a lot better consolidated. Crampons made travel easier above about 9,400 feet, but were not strictly necessary. Winds were strong though, I estimate between 80 and 100 mph on the shoulder above the south bowl. Blew so hard it was hard to keep my legs under me. Exhilarating! Kept the crowds down, too...

Hey Steve, 3/6 is the same day I went up Baldy. You weren't one of the guys I talked to on top were you?

Rick,

There was no one on the summit when I got up around 9:00 am. We might have crossed paths while I was descending though.

What route did you use, and what time did you summit? Was the wind as bad for you as it was for me? Seemed like it calmed down pretty soon after I left the summit...

I did the Ski Hut Trail today, 3/27. There is snow from the bowl to the ridge. It can be done without crampons but I felt more comfortable using them because the snow was crunchy at 8 AM. Snow coverage is intermitant at about 9,100' and solid at 9,400'. It became very slushy mid day.

Bill

Steve,

9:00am? Damn! You got an early start. I started later and didn't get to the summit till about noon. I went up the ski hut trail and then ascended the bowl. The wind was intense on top. My eyes were so irritated from the sun and wind that they turned really red continually getting worse over several days. Took a week before they cleared up.

i am going to do badly this sat. What time should i start?. What trail is the best

I will be doing the Ski Hut trail on Saturday. Could I go past the Ski Hut trail and up the bowl to the first ridge without crampons or much icy conditions? Please let me know and thank you in advance. Is there snow on the trail up to the Ski Hut and that rocky section right after the Ski Hut? Thanks!

Hi Scotty,

I was there Sunday and some folks were making it up in trail running shoes (a gal named Carrie from Alaska and her sled dog zoomed up). I step-kicked a ways up the snow to the left of the bowl but near the top the snow was mostly gone and underneath was a thick layer of ice from the December storm. My crampons were in my pack (DOH!) so I traversed to thicker snow and continued up. With the warm weather the snow will soon be a memory.

Jim

scotty Member # 984

posted March 29, 2004 10:44 AM
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I will be doing the Ski Hut trail on Saturday. Could I go past the Ski Hut trail and up the bowl to the first ridge without crampons or much icy conditions? Please let me know and thank you in advance. Is there snow on the trail up to the Ski Hut and that rocky section right after the Ski Hut? Thanks!

so what is the prefered route up the hill. and down? i am looking at the map now and the ski hut is aprox 4.2 miles of trail with .9 miles of dirt roard. the backbone trail looks like 3.2 miles of trail with 3.6 miles of dirt raod.

I am going saturday so any advise would be great. Also bout how long does it take?

Thanks for the info

Leroux,
There's no way of knowing how long it takes people, it depends upon their fitness level. 5.5 hours round-trip might be a good guide time on the ski hut trail, which I believe would be the preferred route. It's certainly more scenic than the backbone way, but not as scenic as the Blue Ridge or village church way.

It will be hard for you to know how to pick up the ski hut trail unless you have a guidebook or are going with someone familiar with it. it's very tough to see the vague trail as you go up the fire road. Good luck!

i just wanted a rough time round trip to see what time id be home.

Thanks for the heads up about missing the trail. I got a map and hope me and my pal can find it.

I plan on taking the skihut up and possibly the backbone down.

Give myself some extra miles.

"jim in HB" thats where i live, near the pier
small world

Cya on the trail

Leroux

I generally take the Ski Hut Trail up and the Backbone done. I dislike coming down the Ski Hut trail because it can very difficult on the knees. And don't feel bad if you miss the trail. As many times as I've hiked it, I'll still occasionally walk past it. The good news is it's much easier to spot when you backtrack.

Hey Cmachler,

any good identifing markers (trees, rocks) near the trail head?

also how easy s the backbone trail to find coming down.

About how long does that total hike take you?

leroux

Sometimes there's a cairn marking the Ski Hut trail, but don't count on it. Basically, the problem with finding the junction is for the first 50 feet or so the Ski Hut trail runs almost parallel to the access road and in the opposite direction of your approach. Think of it as a very very very sharp left, damn near a u-turn. The other problem is it cuts right up the hill, so it doesn't look like a spot for a trail. I think it's roughly a quarter mile after the junction with the trail leading down to the water fall.

At the top, I believe all the trails are signed. I know for sure the Backbone Trail is... at least it was last fall.

Excluding the Bear Canyon Trail, I usually say 6 hours for Mt. Baldy.

Hi!

Mount Baldy is a good training area. I've used
it before my trips for the one day Whitney
march as well as for Rainier and Shasta. Last Sunday I used 6 hours for the round trip which included a stop at the ski hut for a blister check, chatting at the top and so on. Lot's of nice folks and plenty of places to pass or be passed so you can set your own pace. The first two miles give you maybe 2000 feet of elevation gain so the last 1.25 miles gets you another
2000.

You could budget 3.5 hours up and 2.5 hours down. It is getting warmer so start early.

Jim

cmachler Member # 710

posted March 31, 2004
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Sometimes there's a cairn marking the Ski Hut trail, but don't count on it. Basically, the problem with finding the junction is for the first 50 feet or so the Ski Hut trail runs almost parallel to the access road and in the opposite direction of your approach. Think of it as a very very very sharp left, damn near a u-turn. The other problem is it cuts right up the hill, so it doesn't look like a spot for a trail. I think it's roughly a quarter mile after the junction with the trail leading down to the water fall.

At the top, I believe all the trails are signed. I know for sure the Backbone Trail is... at least it was last fall.

Excluding the Bear Canyon Trail, I usually say 6 hours for Mt. Baldy.

leroux,

The Ski Hut is a great up this mountain and I really love it from the bowl to the peak. We usually go up the Ski Hut and down the Backbone to take the ski lift down, basically to protect the knees. It's a short walk back to Manker Flats.

Time is hard to judge because of the snow up there. I made the Ski Hut, about half way, in under a 90 minutes but the snow slowed me a lot on the rest of the way to the summit. All I know is there will be less of it when you head up there Saturday.

Bill

The Ski Hut trail gains 4000' in 4 miles. If you like that, the train from Baldy Village gains 6000' in 6 miles. There is another challenging approach from outside of Wrightwood. I have never done that one, but plan to try it out sometime this spring.

AlanK,

The North Backbone is on royal pain, which is what you ar talking about. If you are going to round trip it make sure you are in super shape. The trip is 8 ups and 8 downs. It truely kicked my a$$ and I was in Whitney day hike shape.

And there is a lot exposure after you go over the first bump for bit, it's been a while so I'm not of the exact length of the exposure but it will get your attention.

Bill