Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Conditions On Baldy

Hi Comradebear,
I haven't hiked Mt. Baldy since last September so there was nothing to report except many photos from Ontario peak. Timber, Telegraph,.......
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EZpMV8WDZP3tAY5H6
Since I don't have $5000.00 for the fine, I have been looking at Mt. Baldy from the distance just like looking at the Mona Lisa in a museum.

According to local tv news, ktla, a 40 years old hiker wearing a light jacket, shorts, and tennis shoes with a dog got rescued from sketchy narrow trail covered with snow and ice around 9000 ft. This was the perfect example of kind of situation which authorities want to avoid or fed up with.
I hope the authorities won't penalize us for postponing the opening date of Mt. Baldy because of this rescue operation. I have met several hikers who had hiked Mt. Baldy illegally and bragging about their conduct openly. Either way, we have to pay the price at the end.

Mt. Baldy is still the best local mountain for hiking and all other outdoor activities.

Have a great hike.

P.S.
All trails to Ontario, Bighorn, Cucamonga, and Etiwanda are still covered with good amount of snow from Icehouse saddle because they are on north facing slopes and canyons.

The trail conditions of Mt. Baldy area viewed from Ontario peak. (Please zoom in the photos)
From east to west direction:
All south facing slope of Timber, Telegraph, Thunder (3Ts), Devil's backbone to the bottom of Mt. Harwood to the saddle looked dry.
Baldy bowl/Ski hut trail to the Ski hut looked dry. There should be good amount of snow in the tree section to the west ridge. There may be small snow sections or mostly dry from the west ridge to 9200ft.
Mt. Baldy and west Baldy are still covered with snow above 9300ft.
The main Baldy bawl is losing the snow fast. West bowl facing east should have good snow left to climb if the mountain is open.
All area below 7000ft affected by the Bridge fire on Bear canyon is still looked brown.
There was some snow left on Mt. Baden-Powell in the distance.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LYVfsWiWevfrckQB6
Have a great hike.
P.S.
Ontario peak trail was covered with frozen bumpy snow. It is a great idea to stay on or in the existing boots track with minimum gears of micro spikes and trekking poles. If you trip and fall or skid off from the trail, it is almost impossible to stop yourself on frozen/icy steep slope (even with crampons or ice axe) with trees and rocks especially between the Icehouse saddle to Kelly's camp.
Somehow the boots track went over three false summits before the Ontario peak. It was a discouraging and long snow hike. The summer trail sits much lower.
Some hiker tried to take a shortcut and got lost. But they were all right. Maintaining a visual contact and awareness of surroundings are very important in snow hiking.
Some hikers headed out to Cucamonga peak direction without micro spikes or trekking poles. The conditions of trail would be challenging as Ontario peak.

It is getting very warm, and snow is disappearing very fast on Mt. Baldy area.
There won't be much of update after a few weeks.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7hJ37AgP8gyddBSv7

Rick G. and I were going to hike Cucamonga peak last Sunday. But we decided to hike Bighorn peak and Ontario peak because of very steep and hard frozen trail between Icehouse saddle to the old mine shaft with microspikes and trekking poles. We took east facing ridge of Bighorn peak up and Ontario peak. All north facing slopes of Ontarion peak trail were still covered with old frozen snow.
The trail traveled through on hard packed snow, rocks, bushes, dead trees, and some dry sections.
We ran into several hikers and hiking groups. Some were very well prepared for the conditions, and some were totally unprepared even no microsipkes or trekking poles or no knowledge about the mountain at all. We advised them as much as we could.
The section between Icehouse saddle and Kelly's camp area was still covered with frozen snow.
Microspikes and trekking poles are the minimum gears for safe hiking.

Thing I learned from this snow hike.
Do you want to hike with a person hike with "Inchworm" style or "Chewing gum" style? (This is my personal definition.)
I have observed that Rick G. always waited for me at the entrance of the steep and deep canyon and the exiting point of canyon while I was traversing safely. He waited for me on all sections needed special attention for changing directions or hard objects to negotiate on the trail. He maintained the visual contacts all the time by stretching and contracting our distance like a inchworm. This style of hiking will keep everyone is safe and keeps the moral of the group very high and make the hike enjoyable.
If the group members are separated farther apart like a chewing gum in a long stretch of hazardous trail without visual or verbal contacts, there won't be able to get a help or assist other hiking partners who maybe in a trouble.
Thank you, Rick G., for looking after an old people. You will feel the same way someday. (Not, soon.)

Shin my friend try a few of these OP tricks place a very large pillow in your pack going slow because of the heavy pack,.next always leave you poles where they slip allows you to stop and adjust , point to natural real or
or not birds flowers wild life stop did you hear that sound for a long break,talk to every one on the mountain again real or not , pictures always good for a break ( dog method you take the picyure and look and share )one of my secrets never tie your boot laces people will always want to remind you they are not tied the laces not the people. Check the phone to see if it is raining or snowing .
Take the crampons off your hands if you are going downhill on a dirt trail
On the last hero hike a young lady commented how quick Ed and I got to the second check point this got us a long break as I explained yes we took the lift and left the bottom long before the others.
Hey OP like in the book we are not over the hill we are in the mountains
Thanks Shin for all the years and reports and staying in touch.

Doug,

Love your list of entertaining tricks. However, I have learned they are unnecessary after a certain age, everything comes quite naturally, with the people passing you looking at you scornfully or enquiring how you are in a solicitous manner, depending on their nature.

Where was your hero hike?

Good advice from Shin, as usual. My default rule: if there can be snow on the trail, carry microspikes and trekking poles. You may not need them, but if you do, they can make the difference between a comfortable and successful hike, and having to turn back or proceed at considerable risk.