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

I think the trip up from Wrightwood is one of the best in the range and certainly my favorite route up Baldy. I have done it both from Wrightwood and from Guffy Campground. The Acorn Trail is used if you start in Wrightwood. The road out to Guffy is often closed at Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy 2) until as late as Memorial Day weekend so that option is out until then. When the road is open you can drive closer to the trail than Guffy. I think Guffy added about 3 miles for a total of about 13. The Wrightwood route is a bit longer.

Bill and Scott,

Thanks for the comments on the northern approach. There are certainly a few hikes around Southern California that are harder than the Whitney Day Hike, and I had heard that Baldy from the north may be one of those. I was not thinking about doing it before the snow is gone and I will definitely not go into it unprepared for a killer workout! We'll eee how things look arounf Memorian Day.

i am doing the ski hut trail @ about 0630 tomarrow if anyone want to meet at the parking lot. up skihut donw backbone.

Training for a day hike on whitney in june

Leroux.

Just a head's up, there is new snow on Baldy from the storm on Thursday.

For those who have an interest, the most recent issue of Talus Pile, the newsletter of the China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, discusses in some detail, their efforts in searches on Mt Baldy, earlier this winter. It is quite ***ering, and is somewhat revealing as to what sacrifices members of these groups make.

http://www.clmrg.org/TPFeb04.html

hey all,

Just got in from baldy. Lots of fresh snow @ 7300' the bowl was a pain, had to break trail and follow old tracks. Great leg workout. Backbone was hair pretty windy up there.
My new "montrails" work great but i forgot my liners under my socks i got a blister you would not beleive.

Have fun
ill do San G in 2 weeks

Leroux

Leroux,

Did you need crampons and axe on the trip ? Overall how were the conditions ? My group will be doing a training hike this Friday. Thanks for any info.

Jack

Jack,
A friend and I went up baldy via the Ski Hut trail this past Staurday 4/10/04. The snow is going fast, no crampons or ice axe were needed. It was warm and sunny and the what snow is left is melting like crazy. We summitted at 10am and what little snow we did have to cross was in relatively flat areas and was soft. Check out the pics...

Baldy Pics 4/10/2004

JCB,

Thanks for the info. Great pictures.

Jack

what a different place a week makes. I had 6-12 inches of snow almost the whole way past the ski hut. White out up top and damn cold. Great hike though.

I am planning on doing San Gorgonio this saturday.

Leroux

L-
Did you use Crampons on this last trip you went on?

no i didnt use crampons when i went. I was there 3rd of april. Skechy coming out of the "bowl" and lots of snow from there on. Fun hike in the snow.

any1 ben on baldy in the last week?
i did san "g" last saturday and it snowed 2-4 inches .

Please post reply soon i am going tomarrow 4-23-04
leroux

My brother and I are planning on hiking Baldy on May 16 and we want to take the trail from the "Village" or the "church". Can someone let us know directions to find this trail head?

-thanks, Rick

This is a toughie, so be forwarned! Also start very early because this trail is almost completely exposed for long sections and there will be no shade on your return trip.

When you're driving up to My. Baldy, look for a restaurant on the right side of the road, just as you enter the town. Then look directly across the street for a red church. You can't miss it, there is a sign on the road that says "Mt. Baldy Village Church." If you start veering away from the town and leaving the houses, you have gone too far.

Park in the village church lot and the trail begins behind the church, on concrete. You'll walk about 3/4 of a mile on the actual street road, passing homes and then you'll hit the trail.

There is lots of high chaparel type brush on this trail and the Forest Service doesn't cut it back, in my experience, until June, so you might want to wear long pants in this area.

Again, I can't stress enough how hot this hike is. It's been in the high 90's in the San Gabriel valley this week, so please start EARLY. I always start this hike with my headlamp because it's so hot and exposed. Finally, the downhill will be brutal on your knees. This hike is much tougher than Whitney, it will mentally fatique you, especially going downhill. Best of luck to you.

It's near the ranger station. I have parked there, but be sure you'll be back by the time it closes (4 PM, I believe) or your car will be behind the gate. I usually walk up the road that is just downhill from the ranger station -- right by the 4000' elevation sign on the main road. You can drive for a bit up the side road and save some on distance. (We're talking around 1/4 mile, so who cares?) The trail proper starts at the end of the road, but I think parking well up the road is for residents only.

I see that Candace beat me to it. I second her on the difficulty.

Our directons looked a bit different -- the church is by the ranger station.

Finally did this hike last Sat (4/24). It's relentless, but what do you expect with almost 1,000 ft/mile of gain for ~6 miles. Great hike! Can't wait to do it again.

What was the brush like after you leave the road and come out into the exposed section? Have they cut it back, or is it still halfway obscuring the trail? Did you think it was tougher than Whitney? I sure do!

The brush wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. There was no bush wacking involved, just a little head bobbing. I suppose it's a little more demanding than Whitney, but not much harder.