Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Conditions On Baldy

Same up here I made it just past where Doug was dropping people off last week but still deep snow until around the corner,more snow this week.Baldy could melt freeze and stay awhile.I was down south over the weekend and was watching the melt but could feel a cold air moving in tonight.
I tried to register 5 for the Heroes. But can't use same e-mail problem .

Yesterday the ski hut trail was dry until a few hundred feet below the hut then was firm snow (and some ice in shady areas). By the afternoon it was a river of water and mud in places from the rapidly melting snow. Across the bottom of the bowl was soft but consolidated snow. Did not go up the bowl due to the late start, it was soft and hot at the bottom. The regular "trail" was decent snow on the way up, not icy so micros and poles were ok. On the way down the snow was mushy and slippery. Sliding in micros but a few fun glissades. Most people in micros, some in crampons. Still a lot of snow from the bottom of the bowl to the summit though. Hoping for the backbone to melt off before the May 19th Heroes hike.

Mt. Baldy still has solid snow above Ski hut.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/FTiTCdeUQ7K7XT199

Fire road to Ski hut: Dry, no micro.
Ski hut to the summit: Solid consolidated snow 1-2 feet.
Micro spike and poles helpful.
Very slushy late morning.
The bowl: There were many climbers in the Bowl.
You can still climb up the bowl for next few weeks.

There were three hikers came up the summit without any winter snow gears or poles from Devils backbone trail.
Devils backbone trail may have much less snow.

The climb for heroes team was on the trail.
Tim, Chris, Patrick were training for a mountain in either Iran or Russia in June.
Looking forward to seeing more people at the Heroes project.

Thanks so much for the report Shin!! I'm hoping to get out there to the bowl next weekend to try out some new to me snow skills. It sounds like there should still be enough snow for that (assuming the next day or two's heat doesn't change things too much).

Hi all! It's funny that the best resource for current Baldy conditions seems to be a Whitney message board - but I'm glad I found it.

I was wondering does anyone know where the two missing hikers were headed and were eventually found? The news reports just say Cucamonga Canyon and leave it at that.

I spend a lot of time on Baldy, so I'm always curious where and how people can get lost up there.

Thanks

Hi Matt,
According to the resident of Mt. Baldy village, the two missing hikers were found all right after four nights.
They decided to head down south in Cucamonga canyon because the trail condition between Bighorn peak and Cucamonga peak was too risky to go back to Icehouse saddle.
The south facing canyon had water and less snow.

Glad that they were all right.

HI Shin,
Have you been up the SkiHut trail, thru the trees to the summit within
the last week? Hoping for little to no snow to bring my grandson with
me this weekend? Thanks for anyones input on that route.
Happy Hiking,
Rick

Hi Rick,
Snow was melting fast.
The water in San Antonio fall was running full force.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZcCS7H2WCm6FR96q6

The trail lost most of the snow except:
1)The switchbacks under the tree section to the ridge beyond
the rock garden. But the trail had good steps.
2)The area between 9000-10050.
The trail had good amount of snow with 1-1.5 feet but could
hike without microspike.
No snow around the summit.

It is a very good idea for your grandson to have a pair of poles. The snow will get soft by around 9:00.
Please keep microspike in your pack for him just in case.

I didn't hike Mt. Baldy much in last 4 months so I was glad that I made it last weekend.

Have a great hike.

Hi Shin,
Thanks for the input. Should be a nice
weekend. Happy Hiking.
Rick

I went up the Ski Hut trail today - still some snow. There were plenty of people w/o microspikes who did fine - just a little slippy.

It was a gorgeous day at the summit - almost no wind. Not very often you can set down a sandwich wrapper and know it won't blow away.

I went down DBT - which was almost completely clear.

I've been experimenting with wearing microspikes on dirt when going down in places where it's really steep - like the maze part on Ski Hut trail and the very top part of DBT coming down from the summit. I can go a lot faster down with them on than w/o them. I like it.

I have been wondering about that myself. I have problems going down steep, loose slopes. My feet want to shoot out from under me. Thanks for the information.

Hi hiking friends,
Our old time friend on the mountains, Frank A. is back on Mt. Baldy after concurring his medical condition.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QjdQYxta3n2VXr719

Great to see you back, Frank.

Shin

The snow is getting thin everywhere except north facing slopes.

Mt. Harwood has a band of snow to the north facing slope.
Harwood saddle to Baldy has snow on north facing slope but
the trail is dry to the summit. Good to go on 19th.
Baldy to Dawson saddle is covered with solid snow.
West Baldy still has good amount of snow.
8900-9700 feet of Baldy still has good amount of snow.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vgEt5qvEC9DJH6kK8

No microspikes were needed today. Snow was soft.

Does anyone know if Baldy got any new snow from the rains last week/weekend?

Yes, a bit. More on the way.

Those spots where the DBT narrows to about a foot on the steep slopes have to get pretty dicey in that stuff right?

I'm planning on doing ski-hut Saturday, but I think I'll go down ski-hut as well and not do the DBT loop part.

I went up ski-hut today. So weird to hike over new snow in late May.

The only old snow left was in the final push up to the summit, and not much. I'd expect there to be almost no snow left next week unless we get another storm.

Anyone have any info on the search for the missing possible murder victim around Mt. Baldy?

https://ktla.com/2019/08/01/search-conti...nd-in-monrovia/

"On Wednesday, authorities asked members of the Mount Baldy community to "remain vigilant" in the continued search for Custer.

Neighbors in Mount Baldy said that an unusual amount of emergency vehicles have been seen in the area over the past few days."

Can anyone tell me where the wreckage of the Military trainers is.
I've heard several people mention them. But know one seems to know
exactly where are. Thanks in advance for your input.
Happy Hiking, Rick

Hi Rick,
There are three sites where you can see the big aircraft wreckages, engine, fuselage, and tail section.
The aircraft went down in 1949.........
It is easier to spot the sites on the slope of Goode canyon on your right side of the trail as you hike down from the summit.

As you hike up (on your left side of the trail):
You can spot the tail section looking down among the trees at the bottom of Goode canyon from the trail, around 9000 feet, neat the old wooden "Mt. Baldy" sign.
You may have to hike down quite a bit to the actual site.

The fuselage can be seen over the rock on the slope of Goode canyon 30-50 yards from the tail, around 9200 feet, just below the old wooden sign. You can see many small aircraft parts near the
area.

The main engine is found about 100 yards from the trail near the last marked wooden sign around 9500 feet elevation.
Walk down on the gentle slope, follow the side trail on your right, to the shallow canyon bottom. It sits on the sand.

You should explore the area on your next hike up. It is very
interesting.