Date Hiked: 11-27-2010

Trip Report:
The first big storm of the season hit last week and I wanted to see the snow. I was going to hike San Gorgonio but got back to late from my hike yesterday. I decided to hike Mt. Baldy with my friend Nate. I knew Baldy had snow and could be hiked easily in a day.

Mt. Baldy Summit

Nate and I arrived at Manker flats around 9:45 and began hiking at 10 AM. We saw an ambulance and fire truck at the trailhead so I knew there has been some kind of accident. We talked with the fireman and he said a hiker had a heart attack and had died. We continued up the road and onto the ski hut trail turn off. We were stopped about a mile up the trail while the rescue crews prepared the body to be flowed off the mountain. About 20 minutes later we were allowed to pass. My condolences to the hikers family and friends.

SAR Helicopter

SAR Helicopter Closeup

It took an hour and a half to reach the ski hut. I was surprised that much of the trail above 7000 feet was snow covered. Once at the hut we put crampons on and took a short rest. There were other people wondering around and getting ready for the hike to the summit as well.

Baldy Bowl From the Hut

The Three Ts From the Hut

We continued up the trail from the hut. It seems like there may be just enough snow to climb directly up the bowl.

Baldy Bowl from the Trail

The Three Ts and Ontario

It looked like there was more snow on the west side of the bowl, this would be the way to go if you did not want to follow the trail.

West Side of the Bowl

The Baldy Bowl

As we made our way up the packed trail we passed a few people coming down from the summit. A few of them decided not to go for the summit because of the weather. The trail was easy to follow and packed nicely.

The Trail

Once we were on the ridge we surveyed the scene. The mountain was now completely covered by a large cloud. It also looked like there were low coming clouds moving in from the ocean.

Clouds Over the Ride

We slowly made our way around the back of the bowl. The winds also began to pick up the higher we hiked. The snow was firm and crampons helped although they were not essential.

Nate Hiking Above the Bowl

Clouds Moving in From the West

West Baldy

Eventually we saw the summit. The last 500 feet were very icy, my crampons helped here.

The Summit

San Jacinto

Ice Near the Summit

People on the Summit

We finally made it to the summit. It took 3 and a half hours from the trailhead. It was extremely windy, we guessed the wind gusts were up to 60 MPH and the windchill near 0. After putting on jackets and gloves we took a few pictures and headed down. Not a good day to linger on the summit.

Looking West From the Summit

Catalina Island

West Baldy

Mt. Baden-Powell

Iron Mountain

Nate on the Summit

Myself on the Summit

Summit Plateau

Pine Mountain

San Gorgonio

On the way down we stopped to check out the bowl.

Looking Down One of the Couloirs

Mt. Harwood

Santiago and Mojeska Peaks

Once past the icy section near the summit we were able to descend pretty quickly. On the way down I took a few more photos before the sun set.

The Baldy Bowl

One Last Look

We got back to Manker 6.5 hours after leaving. The clouds started moving in just as we were getting to the trailhead. We found out that it started snowing an hour after we had finished hiking. Hopefully last weekends storm is a precursor of things to come.

Mt. Baldy Summit Panorama

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Date Hiked: 10-21-2010

Trip Report:
I took the day off work to see to if there was any snow up in the high country. It was an interesting day on the mountain with mostly clouds and rain. The views did open up over the Bowl on the way down which was nice. There were only small patches of snow above 9500 feet. I was expecting more but I guess the recent storm was not cold enough. I have posted a few pictures for anyone interested.

Mt. Harwood

Pete and I got to Manker Flats at 9:30 and started hiking a few minutes later. It was overcast with a few breaks in the clouds on the way to the ski hut. It took us an hour and 10 minutes to get to the hut where we rested for a few minutes. The was a nice break in the clouds here where we could see the lower half of the Bowl. The upper mountain was still covered. The clouds began to fill in the bowl as we began to leave for the summit. The peaks across the valley were barely visible

The Ski Hut

Clouds in the Bowl

Peaks Across the Valley

We made our way across the bowl watched the clouds fill in basin. As we ascended the trail the visibility began to drop.

The Baldy Bowl in the Clouds

The Baldy Bowl

Peaks Behind Clouds Behind Peaks

The Baldy Bowl and We Crossed Under

The Baldy Bowl and We Crossed Under Again

The Trail

We were in the clouds as we hiked around the backside of the Bowl. The clouds would not break until we got to this same spot on the way down.

The Backside of the Baldy Bowl

We made our way through the clouds to the summit. There were patches of snow here and there but much less than I expected. The temp was in the low 30s (guestimation) and the visibility only a few feet so we did not stay long. We took a few pictures and headed back down. It took us 2:40 to reach the summit.

Mt. Baldy Summit

The Summit Plaque

Myself on the Summit

Pete and I on the Summit

Rock Shelters

Snow Conditions Near the Summit

Snow Conditions Near the Summit II

The Chute I Ascended Last Spring

Clouds in the Trees

One of the Steeper Chutes

Clouds Over the Mountains

Looking Down the Trail

As we hiked down the bowl the clouds finally opened up. We could see Mt. Harwood and the entire Baldy Bowl. The mountains across the valley also made a brief appearance.

Interesting Light Behind a Tree

Mt. Harwood

Mt. Harwood Close Up

The Baldy Bowl and the Descent

Clouds in the Mountains

Below the ski hut the clouds filled in again and it began to rain lightly all the way to the parking lot.

Trail Below the Ski Hut

Mt. Baldy Summit Panorama

Mt. Baldy Summit Panorama II

Clouds Over the Ridge

A Break in the Clouds

On a side note the recent rescue on Mt. Whitney made CNN. Here is the LA Times Article as well

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San Diego Bay to Cuyamaca Peak

Our flight path took us on a northeast path through San Diego County, this gave me a perfect vantage point for taking photos. The photo below shows I-15 winding past Little Black Mountain. The flat ridge past this is Palomar Mountain. The two large peaks on the right and the left and San Jacinto and San Gorgonio.

San Gorgonio San Jacinto and Palomar Mountain

This photo is a panorama of the mountains in southern California. It stretches from San Diego Bay to San Gorgonio. From left to right the mountains are San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, Toro Peak, Rabbit Peak, and Cuyamaca Peak.

SoCal Peaks Panorama

Here is a close up of Toro Peak. The range in the bottom portion of the photo is Mission Trails Park. The range in the central left part of the photo includes Iron Mountain and Mt. Woodson.

Toro Peak

Otay Mountain is in the bottom right corner of this photo. This mountian is close to the Mexican border. In the top portion of the photo is Mt. Baldy.

Otay Mountain to Mt. Baldy

This photo shows Santiago Peak, the Orange County highpoint, and Mt. Baldy, the LA county highpoint.

Santiago Peak and Mt. Baldy

Here is a photo of Palomar mountain and Mt. Baldy. The 200 in. Hale Telescope can be seen on Palomar Mountain.

Palomar Mountain and Mt. Baldy

This is a photo of San Gorgonio and San Jacinto.

San Gorgonio and San Jacinto

Date Hiked: 6-13-2010

Trip Report:
This was my third time hiking Mt. Baldy and my first time up West Baldy. This was also my first time hiking Mt. Baldy without snow. The last time I hiked Baldy was in early April and I wanted to get a faster time than my last hike. I got a late start from San Diego and began hiking at 10:10 AM.

Mt. Baldy from West Baldy

I made good time up to the ski hut taking just over an hour and ten minutes. I got a few good pictures of the Baldy Bowl, the first time I had seen it without snow.

The Baldy Bowl Early April

The Baldy Bowl Mid June

I stopped to refuel and eat a bit at the hut and enjoyed the views. It was warm the entire way to the hut and at the hut. The temperature at 10 AM at Manker was around 78. It was near that at the hut. I left the hut and had good views of the bowl void of snow.

The Baldy Bowl

The Baldy Bowl II

After I crossed the bowl I made my way up the trail on the far western edge. This is the steepest part of the route. It took a little while to make to the top of the bowl. I had great views to the south and west of all of southern California.

The City

The Trail

West Baldy

West Baldy and the Trail

Eventually I made it to the saddle between West Baldy and Mt. Baldy. I could either go up either peak. Since I had never been up West Baldy I decided this trip would be a good time to tag this summit. It only took 5 minutes to reach the summit. I took a few photos and made my way to Mt. Baldy. One thing I noticed was how steep the north face of West Baldy and Mt. Baldy was. On my previous two trips I had never realized this.

Mt. Baldy

The Northeast Face

Eventually I made it to Mt. Baldy and joined the rest of the crowd. It was warm on top so I decided to sit and enjoy the views. I also took photos of the area. Everything looked so different without snow.

Mt. Baden-Powell

Looking South

Pine Mountain and Dawson Peak

My Summit Shot

The Summit Plaque

San Gorgonio and San Jacinto

Santiago and Modjeska Peaks

After a short stay on the summit I headed back down the trail. I stopped at the top of the couloir I had climbed twice this past snow season.

The Couloir

The Couloir with Snow

Above the Couloir

On the way down the sheriff helicopter flew by the bowl and hovered over West Baldy. I shot a short video of it and assume they were just training. If someone knows anything different please let me know

West Baldy Panorama

West Baldy Panorama II

Glider Over the Summit

Sheriff Helicopter

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