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

DocDiamond, my information is about three weeks old. I done the ski hut trail three times between November and the end of February. Back then, on the ski hut trail, there was snow and ice from about 8400 feet to 9000 feet. This is a relatively steep section that doesn't get any afternoon sun. You could walk around the snow by going off trail, but I don't like doing that for ecological reasons. From wbtravis's report, it sounds like even that section got melted out since I was there last.

The ski hut trail (also known as the Manker Flats trail) is different from the path on which you would use the chair lifts. The chair lifts take you up to the ski lodge (the modern one) and from there you ascend the Devil's backbone. The ski hut trail is entirely on foot. You encounter the old Sierra Club ski hut (not the same structure as the ski lodge) by the spring at about 8,000 feet and from there you go up around the West side of the bowl. The trail head for those two paths are within a quarter of a mile of each other. Maybe that was more info than you were seeking.

Brent N

I did the Ski Hut up yesterday and descended via the Backbone Trail to the ski area and chairlift down. Brought the crampons and did not need them. The area in the trees just past the Ski Hut had some snow that was easily avoided. The Backbone trail had a few snow areas that were old drifts but easy to get around. All in all, it was basically like hiking in summer except the temps were in the 30's at the summit and 40's otherwise. Now all of that may change this weekend, forecast is for a big cold front and snow. Let's hope so because so far this is the winter that never happened...

You guys have answered my questions very well -- thank you! I will probably go up the Ski Hut trail from Manker Flats, and down the Backbone to the fire road, since the ski lifts probably will not be running on a Friday in late April. Unless you get a lot of snow over the next few weeks, it sounds like I should be able to do the trek with little difficulty from ice and snow. Thanks again, and happy hiking to each of you!

Any updates on conditions on Baldy (especially in the bowl) since the snow stopped falling?

The mountain reported 18". I haven't been in the bowl, I did putz around Icehouse yesterday with the family and there was 10-12" of freshie...real light stuff, it was cold. I wouldn't expect that it was enough, or will consolidate to be able to do much in the bowl...plus I imagine the wind was blowing it around pretty fierce. My two cents.

Kathy, there is snow, finally! I was up there yesterday. Like Jim said, light dry fresh pow.

Southbay (Cookie) Mark was there today, hopefully he will share some photos and his TR since his is the most current info

I hit the trail at 6:15 this morning,yes the road was icey,right away I noticed no footprints so it must have snowed Sunday night.4 or 5 chutes(gullys) on the way to the hut I noticed that there were slides, the biggest gully before the hut I waded across waist deep..got to the hut at 8:10 and it was 13deg.I tried different ways to the hut trying to stay high but after knee deep and at times thigh deep I went lower..

I did not go up main bowl knowing the the fresh snow would be that sinking feeling..Did not matter, from the hut to the summit I went though ankle,calf,knee,and waist deep snow.I started though the trees and then cut right so I could walk the west ridge, as soon as I hit the top of the ridge the flying snow started,when the gust weren't happening it was very nice out.The higher I went up the longer the breaks I took, alot of the day going up I would take 5 steps and rest, there were times the snow was so soft on small incline humps I would get no traction and have to swim over the hump.

At the summit(12:15) it was 11deg.when I got there there was no wind dropped my bag and started to have lunch that didn't last long as a gust of wind came up and didn't let up,grab my camera to take a couple more pictures and my hand were numb and swollen that fast, tried to put gloves on and only got them on 3/4 of the way my hands were like two ballons, grabbed my pack and went behind the bush just off the summit a little better but my hands were wet and swollen couldnt get them on, I took my gloves off and put my other gloves on stuck my right hand in my pocket and in 15min. my hand was normal again..

On the way down from the summit it was more of knee deep snow around the west part of the chutes on the west side I hit a spot where I was wadeing waist deep got out of there as soon as I could..

Went down the west bowl twice I tried to glissade but was to soft, at the top of the bowl it was knee deep in the middle it was thigh deep with styrofoam type snow..Got to the hut stream and filled up with water and food and the first two people I saw all day walked by..the 3rd person I saw at the register was karen and she was just going to the hut..3 people all day..

As I was breaking trail today I was thinking of richard and gigamike all the times they broke trail at whitney, you have to give it to those two as they had it alot harder then me..my legs got a workout today...

Patrick I doubled the chips in the cookies

Such beauty,fresh snow no foot prints..

Just another bitchen day on Baldy

mark

Baldy 3-19-2012

Beautiful pictures Mark!! Some of the pictures showing the snow-covered trees look like a Christmas cards; they're really pretty! Sounds (and looks) like it was awfully cold uper there. I haven't walked thru that waist-deep kind of snow in a long time.

Pretty cool stuff Mark.

My legs are tired too, but those first tracks...

Nicely done Mark - the pictures might just be better than the thought of those double chips but then again ......

WOW, those are some great photos Mark. They really do look like post cards or something out of National Geographic. I tried to get up there Sunday, but my Prius kept slipping on the snow and ice even with snow cables. I didn't get much further than Ice House Canyon Rd.

Mark,
Looks like you had a great time. I can't make it up till
Sat. Do you think there is enough white stuff to climb the center of the bowl? Shin are you heading up on Sat.??
Happy Hiking
Rick

Great report and photos Mark. Thanks to your photos aka motivation, I am planning on going up tomorrow

Great info. Thanks all.

Calico - I'll watch for your report.

Winter!!!!!!! It's about damn time... Cancelling weekend plans and hoping some of that is still there

Hi Rick,
Yes, I am.
This will the last chance for this season.

Shin

I hoping I can squeeze in a climb with Shin and his daughter between the family obligations this weekend. I wouldn't mind seeing that rotten "son" of his too.

As promised:

Took a trip up to Mt. Baldy then over to West Baldy. With the recent snow I couldn't resist. I took the Ski Hut trail up the western bowl through the trees to the top. There were a few people who took the bowl direct and made it.

There was evidence of some surface slides, but nothing major. I did not go up the bowl for three reasons: I am a slacker and didn't start till 0800, forgot my helmet (rime ice was coming down) and the the art of solo hiking, stay away from surface slides. Here are some photos.

http://calicokat.smugmug.com/Hiking/Southern-California-Mountains/Mt-Baldyq/22052067_sXhMW2





Southern Sierra Snow

Ha, Richard thanks! Told Shin I'm taking my daughter to Arizona this weekend to see my other Dad you know the biological kind? Have fun I'm missing out on meeting Shin's daughter for the first time, maybe he can convert her to become a mountain person.
Hope you guys have good weather. See you all soon

Jeff

Great photos and thanks for the info!

My roommate and I will be out there this Sunday-Monday.
I'm new on the board here but if anyone's on Baldy this weekend and wants to say hi we'll be the two 20something guys w/ a red pack and a green pack.