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

Last time I was up, a week ago Monday, I spent a few minutes picking up rocks from what had been the opening of the shelter and piling them back up on the side walls. I didn't try to move any of the larger rocks by myself - all I need is to throw my back out when I'm up there.

I'm going back up tomorrow and will do a little more. If everyone moves a few rocks every time they're up there I think we can rebuild the shelter pretty fast.

I did notice that someone wrote shelters, plural, a while ago. If more than the one has been destroyed I guess I will surrender and say the vandals have won.

Hey Burt,

Thanks also we can have a Shelter Party on Baldy we can have Shin lead it!

Yeti

When I was up there with Shin Fri before last we noticed the larger shelter was in disarray, then last Fri I noticed a smaller shelter had been partially knocked down also. I don't know what's going on but someone is going thru a lot of trouble to do that. If these people need to lift weights that badly they need to go to the gym more.....

-cat b.

This is the other windbreak that is partialy broken apart that I stayed at, the other two shelters were being used by overnighters..

mark

Hi Mark,
I'll hike on Saturday this weekend and I'll start to rebuild it.
We need a good wind shelter on the summit for next several weeks till we get good snow.

We have to organize a summit watch team. We,general hiker,will take care of day shift and swing shift so you take care of graveyard shift. You are the most qualified person for the job.

The summer hiking season is over now and there will be less public who don't understand the rules of mountains.

We can rebuild it within a short time.

I was up today, don't have anything to add to what's been reported.

I've been trying to figure out Why. It seems there are 2 possibilities. (1) A vandal who just gets his jollies knocking down things. (2) Much more likely, someone who is on a campaign to return the summit of Baldy to its "wilderness" condition. The problem, of course, is that Baldy is not wilderness. It is regular National Forest, "land of many uses," including overnight camping.

I have been a terror about things that people leave on top, including prayer flags, US flags, crosses, etc. I checked with the Ranger and it is all considered litter so I carried it down. For a while I was removing a line of prayer flags almost every week.

But the rocks on Baldy belong there. They don't become unnatural just because you put one on top another.

I will say that when I summited Baldy the first time, 25 or so years ago, my initial reaction to the windbreaks was negative. They seemed obtrusive. But then I realized how right they are for where they are.

I wonder if the person doing this monitors this forum. I would be interested in hearing his side of it.

It's an interesting conversation for sure, would be great to get the person to weigh in.

I'm all for restoring wilderness to it's natural state and to minimize the impact that we all have on it. Frankly, I'll be the first person to pull a ribbon from a tree or remove a duck from a OBVIOUS and WELL ESTABLISHED route. However to the above point the windbreaks on Baldy serve a very different purpose...especially for those of us who camp and/or choose to socialize there.

Shin if I can get a respite from my duties I'll try to scoot up early Sat morning and help, maybe there will be some freshie to play in!

understand, i am not the person who is taking down the windbreak(s). i have used those on baldy on many occasions and feel they can be a lifesaving tool.


but one man's flags just might be another man's rocks.


i volunteer with the forest service. we use the ribbons (we call them flags) to identify many things - some not so apparent to the casual observer - for others who may be coming to do the work in that area and who may not have ever seen the job site in question. seriously think about those flags. you may be removing the flag that identifies a tree nearby that needs to be removed so it doesn't fall on / near the trail and take someone out.

i've set up ducks, for one time usage, to identify water / supply caches. i remove them on my way out. others may be doing the same. i don't like seeing them either. especially if they never move.

My theory of who is destroying the wind breaks on Baldy:

The Aetherians

In any event, I will do what I can to help rebuild the wind shelters this weekend if it isn't raining up there.

The rocks are natural there. The flags were packed up. Pack it in, pack it out is the principle that applies here.

As for the U.S. flags I've removed: First, I did check with the Ranger before I removed them. (If it is now the position of the NFS that the windbreaks should be removed I would accept that. But I doubt that it is.)

Second, it does no honor to the flag to leave it up there where it becomes faded and torn in a matter of days.

They're also the ones who move the rocks around at the Race Track in Death Valley.

looks nice and white from the beach...thanks to anyone who worked on the wind breaks today, bet it was brisk. i'll head up tomorrow and do more if needed.

Hi Mike,
I tried to rebuild the wind shelter on Saturday around 9:00. It was very cold and the ground was frozen and even my water bottle started to freeze. I took a shovel with me and cleared only one yard square. I should have gone a bit latter with warmer temperature.
It was very nice to see snow covered Mt. Baldy.
Pictures are in WPS album link.

Great pictures, Shin! Thanks.

Cool, I saw a green 4runner there yesterday and thought it was you....alas, no stickers! Thanks, i worked some on the smaller ones as well, looks like the large windbreak will have to wait for warmer weather.

As a conditions update, I saw many an idle crampon and ice axe yesterday. These are not needed, microspikes are handy however.

Those who destroy these types of structures hate the environment, regardless of their purpose they are vandals. The structures serve a purpose and in no way damage nature. For shame.

CaliHawk,

100% Agree!!!

Yeti

Anybody been up in the past few days?

There is no snow from this weeks storm. Today there was lots of ice in the trees, especially near West Baldy on Bear Flat Trail, it looked like the trees had Christmas Decorations.
The ground was not frozen, but it is getting colder, a good nip in the air when the wind blows.

A couple of cell phone photos:

Thanks!