Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mt Baldy-snow chains and weather conditions

Yesterday i went up to Frazier Park to snowshoe but i was turned away because i had no snow chains and there were mass crowds.My first choice was Baldy but i noticed on a website that sometimes you have to have chains and i figured there would be enormous crowds.So whats the deal if you dont have 4x4-do you all have chains?Also for baldy i cant find accurate snow conditions-it seems some people will say there will be snow others say rain.How do you figure whether there will be good snow conditions when it might be raining in LA or at Baldy area foothills?Thanks.

1. no chains required on Baldy Road at this time. with the storm coming likely they'll be required on Thursday. 2. to check weather, use NOAA, type in Wrightwood,CA. on the map click on Mount San Antonio (Baldy) and check forecast for elev 8,555 (or close to it.) 3. the San Gabriel Mountain Dscussion Forum has TR's from members several times a week. http://sangabrielmnts.myfreeforum.org 4. Baldy Ski Resort website has a live webcam, road conditions and real time weather. peruse it. http://www.mtbaldy.com/

However, in spite of any weather report, it is not a good idea to head up into the mountain areas in snow conditions, without chains. When there is weather predicted of any kind, its really asking for it.

I've been trapped in Baldy canyon, where there was only light snow coming down, because it was COLD, and the roads froze into ICE, and they would only let 4wd WITH chains move, until 3 in the morning. There are some steep, winding sections, and when they are frozen, anything else has NO control. When it is snowing, you want to be out of there by 3, before things really start to freeze up.

If you have 4wd/awd AND snow tires, they don't require chains. The Baldy rd can indeed be treacherous but I never had issues with that combo while other cars were just plain old sliding off the road.

From:
http://www.dot.ca.gov

"If I have 4-wheel-drive, do I need to carry chains?

Yes. Even though weather conditions may not warrant the use of chains on 4-wheel-drive vehicles at a particular time, to enter a chain control area, you must have a set of chains (for one drive axle) for your vehicle in your possession. If conditions worsen or you have trouble controlling your vehicle, you must stop and install the chains."

and:

"R-1 and R-2 are the most common conditions. A highway will often be closed before an R-3 condition is imposed. Some local areas may use variations of these designations. You must follow the directions on the signs posted for chain controls or any instructions given by Caltrans or CHP personnel at chain control check points, even if these are at variance with broadcast road condition reports or information contained herein."


Dale B. Dalrymple

Ken,
You couldn't be any more accurate with what you stated about that area. I, like you, have also been victimized and trapped by the same conditions on that road right at the Mankers gate.

"JustBob"

There is a tree up there that still has a "dent" in it from my 4WD, that was in 4-LOW (without chains - stupid!), that decided it wanted to slide off of the road. (Another incident in the "charmed life" that I've lived - I thought I was dead and was never happier to see a tree in front of me.)

If you see temps heading belowing freezing, I'd make sure there are chains on the vehicle, if you're anywhere above Icehouse Canyon.

Well, they never had me put on chains at any of the control stations because of snow tires and AWD. Chains really are pretty useless down here anyway. I do have a set in the car but never needed them. Tires on the other hand make a HUGE difference.

Thanks for the replies and info.So i guess because of its proximity to LA (mass people)early arrival is key and always have snow chains.
Im looking to go up in the next 3 days -keeping an out for weather and also chains to get-i have a 4 door honda accord.


Ive never been to baldy area so for snowshoeing any suggestions?I dont need a super workout just nice scenic views.Maybe 4-6miles round trip.

for a first time, a simple, but nice trip, is to take the falls road from Manker Flats, and just follow the road as far as you care to go, up to the the ski chalet, if you like. That's not quite that far, and you can have some coffee/chocolate. No risk of getting lost, even in whiteout. Should be snow all the way to the car.

I cant find manker flats on any maps on the web?Is there good signage on the baldy rd?Also are trailheads visible from roadside/parking area?

google search "falls road, 92358".

after clicking on the map you should get the satellite view.

the area where falls road (gated) and mt. baldy road meet is known as manker flats.

in the photo you can see parked vehicles. park where safe.

there was a port-a-potty there - there used to be two, but in august there was only one. trash cans too.

hike up the road past the gate.

you will pass several private homes downhill on your left, then san antonio falls ahead of you at the hairpin turn.

the trail takes off sharply uphill on your left just past the first big bend past the hairpin turn. can be easy to miss if you're not looking for it or if you're yakking it up. at least i thought so in summer. in winter, may be easier to see.

Great directions "B".........................!

thanks...Also the winds look ferocious and very cold in the general area.NOAA says 80mph gusts.Is it like that on the trails?Seems wild.I can handle cold but not so much a constant wind chill.

Last winter I was forced to chain up my 4wd at the junction of baldy road and whatever it is that comes up from Upland. It was totally unnecessary, but the CHP wasn't into making reasonable exceptions. That was at around 5:30 am, after about a 30 minute wait. So, yeah, definitely get there early on snow days, because unbelievable hordes descend on the area whenever significant snow falls.

And forecasts for 80 mph winds are usually for "free air". Put a mountain in the way and ridge gusts will usually be higher, and quite a bit lower everywhere else.

Bsmith's directions are very good, but I'd like to add a couple of comments: Be SURE you are OFF the road. If you are even a LITTLE on it, you will probably get a ticket. They ticket a lot up here.

Make sure you have a shovel in the car. Blowing snow may blow a lot of snow in the front of your tires, and you may have to dig it out. Be prepared.

Bsmith mentions the hairpin turn for the trail. that is the trail for the Sierra Club Hut. for your first time up here in the snow, I do not recommend that. I recommend that you stick to the road, which winds all the way up to "baldy notch". It's a nice friendly snowshoe hike, in fact, I used to lead snowshoe trips up this road.

The trail could get a little dicy, particularly if the snow is frozen, or in whiteout conditions. Once you know the trail, it's not so bad. But if you've never been on it, you could get into some trouble.