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…
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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…)
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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!
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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. 
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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!
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Ma Nature Goes Insane
LA Times has a story on how Mother Nature has fooled the forecasters this season. It’s a nice rundown on some of the crazy ups and downs of the end of 2010 in SoCal, including a high temperature of 113° on Sept. 27, a heat wave just a week ago, and of course the Mother of All Storms that is currently upon us.
Right now at my house, heavy rain appears to be starting up once again. Apparently the most intense part of the current storm cycle is supposed to be arriving now. Could the past few days really have been only prologue? Mammoth skiers are probably going to need to go into detox when this is all said and done. Looking at the local mountains, I see the snow level has finally dropped to more respectable 7K or so. Mountain and Basin travel is likely to be abominable the next two days, so be safe out there.
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A Four Hour (Cold) Shower
There are only so many days in a row I can watch heavy rain pound the pavement outside my apartment. But that stubborn snow level refused to come down. Finally, on Sunday, I decided to take the initiative and go find some snow. I drove up to the parking lot at Manker Flat (or, at least, I tried to), parked my car, and started hiking up the Ski Hut Trail.
My hope was to hike to the ridge above the Ski Hut, set up my loaner Brooks Rocket Tent, and then get the heck outta there. I didn’t even make it to the hut.
I would describe the experience as much akin to hiking for four hours in your shower, water running cold, while simultaneously standing in a rushing creek. The hike utterly exposed the weaknesses in my rain gear, which failed miserably. I got soaked from mid-chest down, arms, hands, and feet included. Pools of water collected in my gloves and boots.
As I neared the hut, I could tell that the rain was about to change to snow—but it was still rain. Heavy rain. With wind gusts topping 60mph or higher, and my entire body dripping wet, I realized I was flirting with a whole lot of trouble. I spun around and walked back down. Glad I turned around when I did. I was freezing by the time I reached the car.
Mount Baldy Road was partially blocked by a flash flood just below Maker Flat. Here’s a short (10MB) video of what it looked like: Mt. Baldy Road Flooding.
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Two Front Teeth…
In the What I Want for Christmas department, a little snow would certainly be nice. Here’s one of the forecasts I track: San Jacinto Peak.
Okay, before you get too excited, notice how low the snowfall totals are, despite what looks like 5-7 days of precip in a row. This is tracking depressingly close to par for a La Nina winter, with the storms kind of skirting the Southland. Better news when you go farther north: North Palisade.
So a Mammoth weekend is probably a good bet—if you can stand the drive and associated risks.
UPDATE: Okay, precip totals for the Southland are looking a lot better now, with heavy snow forecast for the mts on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the snow level is currently hovering around 9000′, so local resorts are pretty much hosed. Observation: high snow levels (ie, warm storms) are not what we expect in a La Nina year…
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Snow
Mammoth reports 3-7 feet of snow, with nearly 2′ of new snow in the past 24 hours. Locally, the last few storms have opened up Mountain High and Snow Summit, though on pretty minimal bases. I’m off for the holiday, so have a Happy Thanksgiving, and get out there and find some snow…
Brooks Ultralight Tarp
Langley - Northeast Couloir
Birch - Southeast Face
San Jacinto - Snow Creek
Williamson - Bairs Creek Cirque
