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

There is not much to update about the trail condition. It is bone dry.
It has been very warm lately so hydrate well including your loving dogs. Dogs have very limited way to control their body temperature.
Taking dogs to the mountains under excessive heat is just torturing your loving dogs. Please start earlier to avoid scorching heat.
If I were a dog, I want to stay in airconditioned house with some snack or cool sandy beach. (This is my personal view.)

Many cars were overflowing from Icehouse canyon and Manker flat parking lots.
Met many long time friends.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TsoRjHNPFu9QEMFG8
Have a great hike.

Thanks Shin other than a few fires we are in the doldrums also.Not much will change until it changes.

Carole invited me for a hike with Tina and "KING" Arthur today.
We haven't hiked for many years together.
All of us are long time friends of WPSMB and Doug's family.
We started around 2:20 a.m. to avoid the recent heat wave.
We had a great time to update ourselves and enjoyed the hike.
There were many campers on every good spots on ridges, under the trees, and the summit. We didn't see them on the way up.
The weather was nice with cool breeze.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jzqz3vSusTQVJ9TX9

Thank you, Carole, for setting up this great hike and a great cake.
Jeff S.: "KING" Arthur is back on Baldy again.
Welcome back Tina.

Have a great hike.

The heat waive was gone and it was a bit cooler early in the morning.
The Manker flat parking lot was already packed around 6:10.
This hike never get easy.....occasional cool breeze was very nice.
There were trail runners, hikers with various size packs, and coming down over night hikers, early starters, late starters, hikers with dogs, and hiker with a cat around his neck.......joggers training for Baldy Run on the fire road.

The wild flowers around the Ski hut was a treat.
I met many great long time friends at Ski hut.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GZ9CQywhe21eGe5TA

Have a great hike.

There is nothing to update about the trail condition. It is dry!

We had a perfect meet-up group hike yesterday. Some hikers couldn't go to Sierra because of smoke condition. Some hikers didn't want to go rock climbing outdoor under the heat. Some hikers wanted to do a last hard training before Mt. Whitney hike in 2 weeks.
All hikers turned out to be from Sender One (S1) rock climbing gym in Costa Mesa.
Two groups started from Village via Bear canyon around 4:00 A.M.
They spotted a bighorn sheep along the trail near west Baldy.
Other group started from Manker around 6:30 a.m. via Ski hut, Baldy, west Baldy, back to Baldy summit.
Three groups summitted almost same time and enjoyed the summit.
We were able to get back before noon to avoid the afternoon heat.
Everyone had a great time.
The flowers were still blooming in San Antonio canyon.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VAv5R9bz4DSU3fgv9

The Heroes Project is two weeks away. I am ready.

Have a great hike.

Mt. Baldy was open today.
There were many road maintenance project sites along Mt. Baldy road including Manker flat parking area.
The parking area got improved very much.

It was much cooler today because of cloud coverage and a thick layer of smoke from north. The smoke spread all over.....
Everything looked a light brown color.
The air was clear in the morning.
I met a volunteer for the Heroes Hike Project and Brent( 5 times Mt. Baldy hikes in a day hiker. Yes, 5 times in a day.)
I had a great time with Pavel and his friends at the Lodge on the way home.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/14h8y3iGQwMDTTkP8


Have a great hike.

The air quality was very good on Sunday.
The highlight of the day was running into Kurt Wedberg, SMI - Sierra Mountaineering International in Bishop, with his very nice client.
He is a long time member of WPSMB and well known professional mountain guide. It is a very rare occasion to meet him on Mt. Baldy.
His father was an iconic person on Mt. Baldy. There is a picture in Ski hut. Please check it out next time.
I got to know a super nice couple with a beautiful white dog.
There was a hiker carry two heavy hummer to train his upper body.
There were many hikers, trail runners, and dogs enjoying the day.
But, one dog might have a different opinion.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gqUy8ARcn9cMumEK9

Have a great hike.

It was a bit cold at Manker this morning.
There was nice cool breeze at the summit.
Preparation for "Baldy run" was under way at the summit.
A helicopter made a few flights to deliver water and other supplies for the event on Sunday.
I met "Ranger Dan", Brent and Alison in the Rock garden.
Today was Ranger Dan's 1400th Mt. Baldy summit.
Congratulations Ranger Dan. He is a retired forest ranger and Baldy is his play ground.
I also met a long time friend Max. He has over 630 Baldy summits. Today became a Baldy regular's reunion.
Combined numbers of Ranger Dan, Brent, Max, and I are over 3100 Baldy summits. ( We have a very boring life. )
There are more Mt. Baldy regulars, Thomas and Sal. They have over 600 summits or more.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JFFYzaL51QQsrgKG9

Have a great hike.

Ranger Dan, Brent, Max, Shin = 3100+ Baldy summits!

Obviously decades ago you fellows realized "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings." (John Muir)

The Mercy Air helicopter has been a sponsor of the Mt Baldy Run to the Top (today oct 17) for a number of years, faithfully unloading supplies at the Finish Line on the Summit.

This year the Mt Baldy R2T and the Hike for Heroes were rescheduled from Sep 6 and Sep 11, respectively, to Oct 17 and Nov 13, due to the temporary national forest shutdown. It sounds like today the conditions on the Devil Backbone were OK for the R2T. I hope the ice and snow will hold off until after Nov 13.

Wishing you many more ascents.

Jim

It was very windy and cold on Mt. Baldy last Sunday.

Several WPSMB hikers went up Register ridge trail. The wind must have been super strong and freezing cold on the ridge between Harwood and Baldy summit.

We spotted a group of bighorn sheep on west facing slope around 7000 ft. They seemed enjoining grazing before winter sets in.

We took the original route on west facing hillside from 8600-9300ft area of ridgeline in order to avoid the strong and cold wind from north east.
We met Rick G. at the summit and had a great time on the trail down.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vuuvE3hhRP4HP6nA7

Have a great hike.

Hey Shin great talking with you this week . Back up in LP Thanks for another great trip report .Lets hope for a safe winter on the mountains no rescues or recoveries! Slips and falls very easy to get lax and not focus on footing and the rest you know all downhill!

When the mountain gets covered I will try to get a group hike started so will be in touch . Happy T Day!

Recent winter storm didn't bring much snow as forecasted.
The condition of snow was very poor.
Mt. Baldy road and Manker flat parking lot was dry.
The trail to Ski hut was mostly snow free but some icy sections.
We tried to climb the main bowl with poor snow condition, hard at the base and soft and thin on top.
We experienced an extensive rock falls from main rock mass above around 10:20 when we were 3/5 up. Many rocks in various sizes showed down the bowl. We decided to go down. Some went up.
It is a good idea to start climbing the bowl early,8:00 a.m. and look out each other for rock falls as you climb. Even a tiny rock shoot down without sound like a bullet.
We practiced self arrest and other snow skills later at safe area today. Over all we had a very good day.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kqTKBVEYBmmnhEmP9

Have a great hike.

Baldy got more snow last week.
No chain was required on Mt. Baldy road.
Manker flat parking lot was very crowded but well maintained.
Restroom at trailhead has been locked up for last several weeks.
Fire road was covered with solid snow and very icy near white gate.
To Ski hut: Solid firm snow. Microspike or crampons were useful.
Beyond Ski hut to the summit: Solid snow 2-4 feet.
Summer trail: There were few established alternate trail but they were very hard to walk on because of heavy and soft snow.
Bowl routes: No clear established track in main bowl.
We took an established track between Zake chute and 3 pin alleys chute. Going up diagonally to the shoulder of main rock mass and exited out to 3 pin alleys chute. It was a good track but very long near the end.
We walked down general direction of summer trail to Ski hut. Going down was much harder than going up in the bowl because of deep fresh snow.
It took us over one hour to drive down from Manker flat to 210 freeway because of many people wanted to enjoy the snow. 9 miles of traffic jam.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2hYWu5sp954SdXrp7

Have a great hike.

Hey Thanks Shin another great report . Some winters ago I noticed a trend to make fresh track on the mountain about 700000000000 fresh tracks or more ,so hiking down was like back in Kansas walking in the plowed fields ,I see this often on other popular areas , if we all followed the same track it would pack down and create a trail , sure one might need to slow down a bit for others but then again another old trick shout out DID you see that !! then pass as they are looking around. Well anyway glad we are getting much needed snow and rain 'just hope we will have storm after storm this winter, Now the slide/rock fall during or just after the storms can be serious period of movement and each year we read about lost hikers , This year lets see if we can have 0 accidents or recoveries.

Snow on Baldy has consolidated in last two weeks.
It was firm early in the morning. But it got slushy around noon.
No microspike are needed till 7500 ft. There was an established track on main bowl with good steps. No one was on the alternate route which we used last two weeks.
It was very windy at the summit with a bit more snow than last week.
Snow around summit was very hard and icy. Snow on south facing slopes was soft 1-2 feet deep. Some hikers were training in the very steep chute.
I met Max (long time hiking friend and WPSMB member).
We went down west bowl because snow was good condition to walk down.
I met Ray Leonard (WPSMB member) and his son, Jeremiah, and Aurora(K9). They were having great time together with their friends. We had a very nice visit in the perfect winter snow day.

There is still plenty of snow left to play next few weeks.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rAg1Q62FdLFzHzzq7

Have a great hike.

Shin, thanks for the great photos/conditions update.

Solid snow coverage, clear skies, everyone wearing sunglasses, except Aurora (K9).

How does Aurora do it? For years I have asked veterinarians (as well as human eye specialists) about the apparent success k9s seem to have avoiding snow blindness. How do K9s do this? So far I have not found an explanation. Anyone have any insights?

Jim

The snow on Baldy is getting thin fast.
But, there is still good amount of snow left to play above Ski hut (8200 ft).
Snow is very hard and icy from the melting and freezing cycle.
It is very helpful to have crampons, ice axe, microspikes, and trekking poles.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SrkECF82U4HTU3JU9

Have a great hike.

The snow in the bowl was getting thin fast.
Let's be cautious about rock falls caused by rising temperature and strong wind in the bowl.
But, the snow was still very heavy from Ski hut to the summit and West Baldy. There were two skiers enjoying the good snow near the summit.
Met several longtime WPSMB friends, Rick G., Ellen C., Norma R.,.....
Baldy offers us the cheapest way to enjoy the winter snow.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qNQ8SscXCRUxhBMD8

Have a great hike.

The recent mini winter storm dumped 2-6 inches of fresh snow.
Mt. Baldy road was icy above 5500 ft early in the morning.
There was a very nice single track trail to the summit from Ski hut.
Let's hope that everyone will stay on this good trail rather than creating numerous spar tracks to every direction.
The condition of main bowl wasn't good even though it was well covered with snow. The snow on scree and rock fields was too soft, unconsolidated, for good footing and hard to walk on with crampons. The fresh snow on old hard icy snow fields was hard too.
The wind was calm with moderate temperature. Fog rolled in late morning and created a mini whiteout condition above 8500 ft.
I ran into Mac, a longtime WPSMB member, and met many friends.
It was a great winter hiking day on Baldy.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZSq1t3pvjkbC8dYB8

Have a great hike.

Hey Baldy got more snow than Mammoth , Whitney we get feet of wind! Another great report Shin
I did many miles yesterday on my bike , extreme pressure on the left thumb holding the motor control button , wind exposure riding in a tee shirt hitting 30mph on the down hills.
On a hike with Bob H and others last fall I said after about 2 rides with the electric bike the only exercise you get is shifting around on the seat.

About a week left on the lottery sign up and about 2 months till another season

Many changes to the permit pick up problem . "PERMITS CAN BE PRINTED AT HOME" A printed permit is required to be with the leader "Printed" paper copy . Also looks like a fire permit is required , if you plan to use a stove and a Sequoia and Kings canyon minimum impact wilderness regulation to be printed and signed.

Go to the Inyo NF site and hit the Whitney Permit link for all the details.

Main take away Print the permit at HOME log into your rec.gov 7 days before your trip start date confirm the group size and Print your permit.