Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums Thread Like Summary - Conditions On Baldy

Anyone on Baldy this past weekend? Curious where the snow
starts... specifically on the Bear Flats route.
Any info appreciated.

Rick

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.

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.

Mt. Baldy has been opened since 03/21/2026. We lost almost entire winter snow season this year.
But there was deep enough snow from 2" to a foot and a half from 8000ft to the summit today after the recent rainstorm. Please be careful about all voids and stepping on fresh snow on the rocks in Rock Garden area. We only used trekking poles because snow was too soft for the microspikes.
We posthole all the way from Ski hut to the summit combined both the summer trail slope and winter ridge rout around 9300-9500ft. The summit area was very windy, 25-35 mph, and very cold,10s F. The weather was very unstable all day long. Please take microspikes and poles just in case.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/y1bPmdSUwemkYcph6

Have a great hike.