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.

According to the Angeles National Forest service, Ski hut/Baldy bowl trail and Devils Backbone trail are open except Bear canyon trail. ( I called in the office to confirm the update today.)
Thank you, Jim V. for your efforts to express our interests with convincing logic and clarity to the authorities. Thank you again.
Have a great hike.

Rick G. and I hiked up Mt. Baldy and West Baldy via Devils backbone trail and down on Ski hut trail.
The entire trail hasn't changed at all after 8 months of closure. There was no closure sign on Bear canyon direction. But it is officially closed. There were a few snow patches on West Baldy slope. You can still practice putting on crampons or microspikes for coming winter season. But snow may be gone within a few days. We met a two-year-old young lady with her parents. Everyone was enjoying a beautiful weather and mountains on Memorial Day. All Mt. Baldy regular were very happy that they got their playground back on their backyard.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DMwpmhqfZnUfcEmH9

Have a great hike.

Indeed, thanks to Jim V and others who addressed the Mt Baldy trails access issue to national leadership.

One week ago (May 23) below Mt Baldy there was the official groundbreaking for the Veterans Retreat Center (Heroes Project). The use of the Mt Baldy trails is an integral part of the Retreat's program. Of note, Congresswoman Judy Chu, USFS reps, and others were there.

Good to see folks back on Mt Baldy to build strength, endurance, and enjoyment (while, hopefully, staying out of trouble and respecting the Mountain).

Jim

A very special event took place on Mt. Baldy on 06/07/2025.
Brent N. made his 1000th Mt. Baldy summit. He has done massive numbers of hikes on local mountains including very tough Iron Mountain. Congratulations.!!

After reopening of Mt. Baldy, the Manker flat parking was packed even early in the morning.
There were many hikers and trail runners on the mountains everywhere. Rick G. went to West Baldy to carry back a pack full of snow and made a snowman for Brent to celebrate his very special day. Everyone liked it and took pictures with him. Met many Baldy regulars and Steve, WPSMB member, at the summit.
Rick and I scouted out Bear canyon trailhead area. The trail was closed near the middle of village with a visible sing of $5,000.00 fine. The destruction from the Bridge fire was beyond description. We must thank all authorities to protect Mt. Baldy village community. The good thing was that some vegetation was coming back nicely. The area may recover quickly.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ykCgSWcJBWWjLiCh9

Have a great hike.

P.S.
There are three hikers I know have done Mt. Baldy 5 times in a day.
Rick Kent, Richard Piotrowski, and Brent Newell

Is Manker Flats open for camping? The site shows “open” but a few years back I checked the site, it showed open when in reality it wasn’t. So, please any first hand knowledge, maybe a photo

Great day on Baldy yesterday.... Many hikers from around the world. Perfect weather
Trail above the rock garden through the trees was in good shape... looks like most
hikers are staying on the best defined one which helps a lot.
Happy Hiking to all.
Rick

The weather was very unstable today. It was hot and humid without any breeze till Ski hut. Thunderstorm was building up in south with rainbows and slowly moved up near the west ridge area with lightening and very loud thunder shook the air with heavy rain. We decided to turn around. The rain lasted 20-30 minutes and the thunderstorm moved to the west and clear sky after wards. There were many hikers heading up after the thunderstorm passed away. We spotted a small white smoke between Ski hut trail and Register ridge trail.
By the time we got back the fire road, Forest fire engines were heading up the road. We hope that they can control the fire quickly so there won't be any lengthy trail closure.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RP81DYJk9C8PQ4YC6

Have a great hike.

According to the Mt. Baldy regular, the fire was 6-700 feet east of Ski hut. Several hikers tried to contain the fire for 1 1/2 -2 hours until firefighters arrived. More firefighter arrived with the help of dropping the water by a helicopter. The fire was under control. The fire was caused by the lightening from the thunderstorm.

Bear Canyon Fire damage update: Sept 7 2025

Now that the Bridge Fire closure has been lifted, I got a chance to hike up Bear Canyon on Sunday Sept 7 and see the fire damage.
FYI, today (Sept 8, 2025) is the 1 year anniversary of the start of the Bridge Fire (started Sept 8, 2024)
Seems like all the Bear Canyon cabins from about 100 yards above the Baldy Church completely burned down.
Bear Flats burned, but now the ferns are covering most of the area around Bear Flats, and the stream was still flowing.
The switch-back slope above Bear Flats completely burned, but now new growth is emerging.
The fire burned almost everything from the cabins up to about the half-way the Bear Canyon trail (~7500’).
Above the half-way point, there were a few spot-fires that burned small areas, but didn’t spread.







Bear Flats



Above half-way up the Bear Canyon Trail (~7500')


More photos from the Big Baldy Loop here:
https://grahamcracker.smugmug.com/2025/Big-Baldy-Loop-Sept-7-2025
Ps. It took me about 8.5 hours to complete the Big Baldy Loop.
I know this isn’t a Piotrowski worthy sub 8-hour romp, that he used BITD to justify getting a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle :-)

But, we were both about a hundred years younger at the time...

Recent winter storm dumped a good amount of snow. The snow got thinner fast because of warm storm.
Manker flat parking lot was no snow. The Ski hut trail was 80% free of snow till Ski hut. Entire summer trail was covered with 1-2 feet of consolidated very good snow from Ski hut to the summit. Microspike and poles are highly recommended up and down on this trail, especially coming down. Many hikers were well prepared for winter snow hike buy some were not at all. There were many climbers in the Bowl.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WysX1wmes6oVYUd68

Have a great hike.

Ski hut trail was 95% dry till Ski hut.
Snow was very thin in main bowl, no climbers were in any chutes.
We took left side of west bowl and exited out to center section and followed the lip and merge to the regular trail. West bowl has still good amount of snow left. Rocks started to fall near Girley chute area in middle of morning.
Around 9300ft west facing slope near the wooden sign, it is better to take the lower track, on your left, which is gentle incline with safer footing than upper steeper and icer track. The lower track merge at the wooden sign around 9500ft 10 yards away.
We saw four young people played around in wooded switchback section below the west ridge. One guy was facing down and other guys were facing up sliding down the trail very dangerously. Other hikers cautioned them nicely, but they ignored and kept on sliding down.
Microspikes and trekking poles were very helpful on regular trail. Thank you R. Graham letting me borrow
your poles.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gsoL5WsZYaPDGmLbA

Have a great hike.

Snow is melting fast on Ski hut/Baldy Bowl trail. Not much snow in the bowl.
No microspikes were needed till the bottom of switchbacks under the tree section to the west ridge. The switchbacks were still covered with hard packed snow. Better to use both trekking poles and microspkes up and down. From 8600-9300 ft was dry. 9500ft to the summit was covered with good snow for microspikes and poles. I met many longtime friends and made a few new friends today. Met a very big group of hikers who were ready for Xmas. They had a good music for the occasion.
Mt. Baldy road was eventful today.
There was a police activity before the tunnel area early in the morning. 3-4 cars were surrounded by 6-7 police cars and the area was blocked off by the yellow tape.
There was a temporally road closure near the power station around noon. A parked car was burned out completely. Fire department and local police controlled the incident.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/56rVBZ8ULYMj4g6a9
This hike never gets easier. It is getting harder and harder.
Have a great hike.

Shin,

Thanks for the TR.

Great to see you and the Twins thriving! ( I first met the Twins when they were 4. We were coming up the backside of My Whitney with rather sketchy trail conditions.)

It is observed that your odometer hit 300,000 miles. What make, model, year is your car? How many visits has it made to the Mt Baldy?

In Dec 2014 the odometer of my 2005 Toyota Corolla CE hit 299,999 miles, but refused to turnover to 300,000. This is a known issue with several of the 9th generation Toyotas. Toyota replaced the instrument cluster (at no charge). This year on my Mt Whitney trips, the little car passed 510,000 miles. This simple vehicle (and faithful friend) is an engineering masterpiece and looks forward to transporting me to Whitney Portal next season.

Have a great 2026.

Jim

Hi Jim,
The super hiking twins were strong as usual with wonderful parents. Last Saturday was their 105th Mt. Baldy summit. It is so nice to see them every time.

I drive 2001 Gen3 Toyota 4Runner 2x4 since 2022 after losing 2001 Toyota Camry, 372K miles, with blown off head gaskets on 57/10 freeway on the day of Heroes hike. This Camry got me many trips to Baldy.
I bought used 4Runner with 168K miles in 2014. I do routine oil change every 3000 miles only.
I had several new and used Toyotas in the past and gave me over 350K miles of great service.
I hope this 4Runner gives me several more years of service.
I showed the "300000" odometer reading to the fellow taking order at In and Out Hamberger where this happened. He didn't offer me a free soda or French fries. They used to offer a free hot chocolate on rainy day for kids. I will try it for a free cheeseburger at Whitney Portal when the odometer hits "400000".

Have a wonderful Holiday season.