Comments on: 3 Storms

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:41:47 +0000

Taylor, if you’ve never gone up the Ski Hut trail on snow, I wouldn’t recommend trying it in the dark. It’s easy to miss the critical turnoff, and there are some exposed sections.

I’ve done it both ways: skinning or booting up to the hut. Booting with crampons is probably the easiest and safest, but that’s certainly debatable. Have fun and be safe!

By: Taylor

Taylor — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:33:48 +0000

I’m planning on skiing baldy bowl tomorrow. As I’ve never done it before, had a couple of questions that maybe you guys could help with(Trying to plan gear).
1. Can you skin up the ski hut trail from Manker, or is the terrain too steep/difficult to do so? I’m sure I can hike 5 mi in ski boots, but if I’m going to end up hiking most of it, i’ll probably take ski boots and wear another pair.
2. I’ll probably start in the dark(I want to avoid the Mt Baldy traffic mess as I’m sure it will occur again this weekend), is the trail easy to follow(meaning well marked or heavily foot trafficked so there will be a path in the snow) or is it just a free for all to the hut? I’m very experienced in land navigation, just wondering if I’ll need to do some map + compass prep.

Appreciate your thoughts.
Taylor

By: Chad

Chad — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:55:20 +0000

I skinned up to the summit of San Jacinto on Sunday. Weather was perfect. Light winds on top. Snow hut completely burried. 5-6 feet of deep powder. Wet and a little heavy by noon. Skied down the South East bowl. Giggling like a school girl the whole way down.

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:42:13 +0000

I think you’re right Scott. I know a Sierra Club group will be up there next weekend for sure. And if your timing is right, someone else will have laid down the skin track for you.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:46:03 +0000

I have a feeling that if one goes to Baldy Bowl the weekend after this, one will find out just how many BC skiers there really are in SoCal. I’m planning on going there then myself, barring new storms..

By: Taylor

Taylor — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:00:17 +0000

Thanks for the advice. I guess I’ll do Baldy inbounds this weekend. Looks like they’re getting some snow(hopefully soft as the weather gets colder starting today). I think the storm will have moved out by saturday, or just have some lingering that will keep some of the masses away from the mtn.
Maybe next weekend the snowpack will have settled.

By: Dan Conger

Dan Conger — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:22:43 +0000

Thinking about in-bounds at Alpine Meadows this weekend. Have a free pass. Regardless of where you go, be safe and have a blast.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:48:05 +0000

There’s some good low angle trees that’re fairly approachable by San Gorgonio and its sister peak, even if it’s a long drive. And traffic will be miserable because of everyone heading out to Big Bear. You think LA drivers are bad in the rain…

For this week, I think Baldy inbounds will be the best bet, provided your vehicle can handle the road up when it’s slippery. Baldy Bowl is going to be dangerous for at least the duration of the storm. And like Andy said, just because there are hordes of climbers on it doesn’t mean it’s safe. Many of the climbers down here are under the impression that avalanches don’t happen here (false). I’m hoping to hit it the weekend after this one, provided I can round up a posse to do so and the snow settles a bit. Who knows, maybe we’ll get more storms (please, please).

I’m pretty dang excited about all this snow. Once it melts down here, there’s still the Southern and Eastern Sierra (though ESAC reports that you should stay off them for now). Let the season begin!

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:43:26 +0000

San J is a great choice. I might have to drive out there this weekend too and take a look around.

By: Chad

Chad — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:28:19 +0000

I’m thinking of heading up to San Jacinto on Sunday. If it stays cold I think we can expect some snow to stick around. Need to call the Park later in the week to check on conditions. Lot’s of trees. Skinning through the valley should be safe. Some care needed traversing the southern bowl to the top, but if you ski down the same way or on the shoulder I think it’ll be a shallow enough aspect with realatively little risk. Besides there’s bound to be a handful or more of people up there doing the same.