Portal Road, Snow, Permits
Despite the ease of access, the Whitney Portal region has a less than glowing reputation when it comes to backcountry skiing. Perhaps it’s not so much that there’s something wrong with the area, as that there is almost always better skiing to be found elsewhere. Still, I can report that Whitney Portal Road is now officially open all the way to the portal, and that there is quite a lot of snow up there once you get around 10K or so (more…)
Posted in Current Conditions | 3 Comments
395 Report (South)
Scouted Highway 395 between Olancha and Independence this past weekend. As has been the case the past few years, snow coverage varies greatly depending (I assume) on wind effect history. It appears generally true, once again, that high altitude north faces have been blasted clean. This is not universally the case, but given how much snow fell over the course of the season, if you’re expecting Tyndall’s north face to be blanketed with snow, for example, you’ll be disappointed (more…)
Posted in Current Conditions, Skiing | 9 Comments
Something
Both Mountain High and Mt. Baldy report 2-3′ of new snow this morning. If you can get to either resort today, I’m guessing you’ll find reason to enjoy yourself. Snow Valley reports 24″ of new snow, but Highway 18 is basically shut down right now, with the dreaded chains-on-all requirement. Mammoth says just under 4′ of new snow fell in the last 24 hours, with 5-8′ reported over the past four days. Gotta love those insane Pacific storms. Looks like this one has locked up a stellar backcountry season for all of us well into May-June now. Nice!
Posted in Current Conditions | 4 Comments
Nothing???
With apocalyptic rain blasting the L.A. Basin, Mt. Baldy sounded like a disaster in the making, and the drive up to the San Bernardino Mts. sounded like even less fun, so why not buzz up the Palm Springs Tram and hope for some fresh snow?
Snow forecasts for the San Jacintos weren’t in the ridiculous 50+ inch range, as they’ve been for the San Gabriels, but still, even half that amount would be ripping (more…)
Posted in Current Conditions | 1 Comment
Winter Returns (Again)
Our off-again, on-again winter returns this weekend, with a huge forecast that should hopefully turn our thoughts back to snow. Sunday night appears to offer the most potential for snowfall, with huge storm totals being predicted from the Eastern Sierra to SoCal…
Posted in Current Conditions, Weather | 1 Comment
Scouting Telegraph Peak
Just taking a look at Telegraph Peak’s north face in the San Gabriels this past Saturday. I’ve got an ’04 or ’05 photo showing this same view of Telegraph taken May 15, with huge coverage, which always makes for a good point of comparison.
How does this year stack up (more…)
Posted in Current Conditions | 12 Comments
In the California Sun…
Back home now from the Ski Channel Film Festival and SIA Denver. I have to say, as much as I enjoyed skiing in Colorado, it sure feels good to get back into some California sunshine.
Temps were a very balmy 65 degrees or so when I arrived in Denver last week, shifting abruptly to a bitter -16° F this morning (today’s forecast high: -3). I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such a radical temperature shift in one location in such a short period of time. If you include the overnight low tonight, Denver will see an overall temperature change approaching ninety (that is nine zero) degrees in the span of 3-4 days. My condolences to those who stayed behind!
Much to say about the Film Fest and SIA. But for now, I’m going to relax a bit. It’s been a dizzying and very busy past few days!
Posted in Current Conditions | 0 Comments
Baldy Bowl Avalanche & Level I SoCal Class
One of the interesting things about Baldy Bowl (via the Ski Hut Trail) is that it’s a high use area that isn’t particularly safe.
On any given weekend you’ll find a steady stream of hikers and/or climbers going up the bowl, regardless of current conditions. Perhaps that’s an indicator that climbing in general isn’t nearly as dangerous as some of us think it is.
Or maybe it’s evidence that we’re all a lot luckier (mostly) than we realize. In any case, here’s great evidence that Baldy Bowl is not in fact a child-safe playground. I took this photo around 11:38 Sunday morning, from just off Mount Harwood’s summit. Little did I know, that left slide had actually occurred only minutes earlier, nearly catching a pair of climbers heading up the bowl.
When I saw the slides, I thought, well, those look pretty big. And then I kind of forgot about it. In truth, I expect to see a lot of motion in Baldy Bowl whenever it gets sunny and warm. The San Gabriels are in SoCal, after all, and snow exists here in a perpetual and one-sided battle with the sun. You can’t see it in the photo, but the right slide includes some pretty impressive rocks. Rockfall is endemic to Baldy Bowl whenever the sun is shining. And, in addition to large wet slides, cold slab avalanches can and do occur in the bowl following storms, typically off the ridge line, a NE aspect that wind loads.
This would probably be a good time to mention that, coincidentally, I learned today that Jeff Pierce is teaching a Level I Avalanche Course in Southern California. I’d say that would be an excellent place to start if you want to learn more about the SoCal snowpack, as well as traveling safely in the San Gabriels.
Things aren’t freezing out there right now at night. Be Careful!
Posted in Current Conditions, Skiing | 6 Comments
9500 to 1500
Was it really only two weeks ago that I was climbing in heavy rain on the ski hut trail? Snow levels have dropped from an awful 9500′ to near-record 1500′ in Southern California, putting snow where you don’t often see it, and causing travel havoc, including closing the 5 and 15 freeways.
It’s enough to make you think that SoCal weather is dynamic after all. In case you’re wondering, Mt. Hollywood above Griffith Park Observatory is 1602′, Sandstone Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains is 3111′, and the highest point in the Verdugo Mountains above Burbank is 3125′. So grab the skis (or at least a camera) and get out there. 
Posted in Current Conditions | 8 Comments
A White Christmas
Clear skies and snowy peaks is the Christmas Day forecast here in the Southland. Expect impressive coverage above 9000 feet or so, and ice forests around the snow line.
Here’s a shot of current conditions on West Baldy’s face, rising high above downtown—the classic postcard view from Kenneth Hahn State Park. Merry Christmas everyone!
Tyndall - North Rib
Birch - Southeast Face
Bloody Mtn - Bloody Couloir
Brooks Ultralight Tarp
Shasta - Hotlum-Wintun Ridge
