This is the classic set up Check the web cam recall the song happy days everything looks calm and docile blue sky not a worry in the world!

Surface could be crusted over hard packed snow above the portal , if you checked the weather this might be the last calm day for about a week , not a great time to test gear and travel in rapidly changing conditions that happens in the mountains wind chill down to -20 snow drifts of chest high, whiteout conditions with strong gust 30-60 mph projected.


This system could bring 3-4 feet of snow at the upper elevation and cold enough to put snow not rain at the lover elevation say down to below 4500' (Lone Pine Campground ) and County snow removal stops below that level, (Olivas Ranch Rd) .

The set up is often we hear going in before the storm ! Since this is a 3 day weekend and the weather is clear and calm I expect some to be on the mountain now with a summit for today or tomorrow , you can see the cloud cover moving in and last night a very large ring of ice crystals in the sky (this hints of moisture in the future) .


I am seeing a uptick in messaging for Baldy and the mountains , All good sound advice the missing element is the 1-2% that will never see the information or ignore it , we see this often where we know groups should stay together or at least stay in contact, most nights we see people hanging around the trailhead waiting for a group member they have left on the mountain or they turned around and now don't have the car keys or a vehicle ,often they will suggest that a rescue be started because... We will call dispatch and put the reporting party on the phone with dispatch. Without a location or injury or more details the dispatch often suggest waiting for the party to come down. Sometimes this is the next day .


Baldy trails closed now until after this storm cycle moves out.


Permit lottery open now , think about condition for May mid June and mid October to November 1 if you get a permit for these periods don't expect a trail. Hiking will be on snow/ice with no trail, cold nights and late or early season storms. You will see hints about things you should have or need first understand what they are for and how to use these items.

We consider 3 questions to see how people might do on the mountain when they ask for hints 1. Do you diet, 2. how much and what have you drank the last few days. 3. have you every been over 12,000' elevation These questions cover most of the general problems of people turning around or having issues.

1. Diet seems basic but if you don't eat and replace the energy as you move...


2. Hydration is critical and understanding the balance or amount , not excessive or enough plus consider electrolytes

3. If a person has climbed over 12,000' they should understand 1,2 and how the world changes at high elevation breathing changes , pace ,conservation of energy and awareness of the surroundings , watching the sky , wind direction, temperature change ,moisture in the air and needed layering.

A training program that adds a 15-20 mile hike at lower elevation should give you and your group hints about the hike to Whitney may go. This test foot ware, chaffing , hydration , sun exposure , exhaustion, group dynamics and a good chance to set a steady slow pace for the Whitney hike .



Let's see how this week plays out since it will be the foundation for the early season conditions.