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Joined: Apr 2004
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I am hiking the Ski Hut trail(maybe looping down the backbone) route tomorrow with two friends as part of our preparation for Whitney on 5/21-5/23. Two questions for whomever: Is there currently any snow on either route that would require crampons, and can you self-issue an Adventure pass if we get to the visitors center in Baldy Village before they open.
Thanks in advance,
Dave
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 26
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I strongly believe you cannot self-issue an Adventure Pass because the Angeles Forest really is pretty strict about its use. I have visited the Baldy Visitor Center for a Cucamonga Wilderness Pass and they open at 8am.
Mt. Baldy Schoolhouse Visitor Center
Mt. Baldy Road
Mt. Baldy, CA 91759
(909) 982-2829
Tues-Sun. 8:00 am- 4:30 pm
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Joined: Jan 2003
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cousindave,
With the warm weather Socal has been having I'd be very surprised if you needed any of the equipment you're asking about. Take a look at the other subject on this board about Baldy dated 3/21/04. A recent hiker went up Baldy and encountered no snow, he started at Manker Flats.
On the Adventure Pass, I assume you're talking about a permit because Adventure Passes aren't available as self-issue anywhere. A permit is available in advance by contacting the Baldy Vistor Center the day before the hike. They'll issue the permit over the phone and leave it outside their gate for you to pick up before they open. If you don't call ahead you'll have to wait until they open.
Hiiker
p.s. I highly recommend you have a Forest Adventure Pass, the Forest Service won't hesitate to issue a ticket to anyone in the area without one. Also if you've never parked at the trail head don't park up near the gate off of Mt Baldy Rd. Once again tickets are issued freely in this area too. There's a no parking sign that's really hard to determine what area it's for near the gate. It's best to park along the main road somewhere.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 181
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I hiked Baldy up the Ski Hut trail last weekend. You do not need crampons. The snow was very limited then with the biggest field being maybe 50 yards across. Most snow is in much smaller patches off the trail.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Just got back from hiking the hut trail. Great conditions. My friends opted to hang out at the ski hut while I summited on my own. Whooped right now. Stick a fork in me, I'm done.
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Joined: May 2003
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Finished the backbone trail yesterday up to Mt. Baldy and encountered no snow at all on the trail. The trail is still a great hike (really got my legs good!) although not as good as the hut trail! Hope you had a great hike today!
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 181
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cousindave and drhabes - When were you on the trail yesterday? Maybe we ran in to you. My partner and I climbed the scree bowl behind the ski hut (corss the stream then up and to the right) yesterday and reached the summit around 10:00 AM. We met a few people on the summit and a bunch more hiking up the back bone trail. Four of the hikers on the backbone trail were carrying skis they expected to use on the back side of the summit! We took the chair lift down to save wear and tear on our knees. If either of you were the two older genetlemen who summitted the ski hut trail in under two hours I want to say again I am impressed.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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I started the climb from the Ski Hut at 10:30 AM, and got to the summit at 12:10 ( I'm not too old at 43, and was wearing a goofy hat, using poles, and had on way too heavy of a pack for just a day hike. A couple who I saw at the Ski Hut arrived at the same time via the same trail you took. How does that trail compare with the regular hut route?
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Just to clear up any confusion: No permit is needed to hike/climb on Mt. Baldy. An adventure pass is needed to PARK in the Angeles National Forest (most areas), at the base of the climb.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Although I saw a lot of people with goofy hats (myself included) it doesn't sound like we ran into each other. Climbing up the bowl behind the ski hut is much harder than either the normal ski hut trail or the back bone trail. I'd guesstimate the average angle at around 40 degrees. The loose scree often meant one step back for two steps forward. Theoretically it could be nice to take down because the big pluges steps in the soft scree could make downhill travel fun and effecient. I'll probably be on Baldy again next weekend, but I doubt if I'll try going up the bowl again. More than likely I'm going up the ski hut to the summit, down to the notch to meet friends heading up that side, back to the summit, down to the notch again, and then chair lift down. The chair lift is a life saver for my old tired knees.
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Joined: May 2003
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SpankyBob,
You probably passed me on the way down the backbone trail as I was coming up it! I didn't reach the summit until 11:30am. I was the guy in the black alpine hat with the Couzmel tee-shirt and treking poles! Never know who you will meet on the trail and yes I agree- the ski lift down is a real lifesaver on the knees! Have a great hike next week-end!
PS What were those guys thinking hauling the skis up to the top of Baldy? Unbelieveable!
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