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PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:34 pm
by Hyadventure
Looks like the weather is going to be shaky Monday through Wednesday. Shouldn’t be bad enough to abort, but not the sunny and bright you’d hope for this time of year.

Vivian: There’s very little snow on the trail below Vivian Creek (7000’). After that it was about 98% snow travel as of (4-10).

Baldy: The baldy bowl and the devils backbone are a must do. I did it on New Years Eve, before there was much of a snowpack and there was some rock fall. Maybe a half dozen rocks whizzed past us. It probably has a better snowpack now and it shouldn’t be as much of a problem. Don’t forget to bring $20 for a bite to eat and a ride down.

Adventure Pass: SoCal National Forests require an Adventure Pass to park. If you have an National Parks Annual pass that will work, just leave it on the dash. Adventure passes cost 5$ and are purchased from local businesses that usually don’t open until 10. The fine for the first violation is $5, after that I’m not sure?

PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:55 pm
by Luciano136
TacoDelRio wrote:Oh yeah, don't eat at the Notch. Eat at Baldy Lodge. 8)


+1 The Notch sucks.

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 1:55 am
by EManBevHills
Fuller Ridge is sweet if you can drive to the T/H. Gives you a great view into Snow Creek drainage, the site of a recent bust of trespassing climbers!

You are looking at some real mileage on some of these routes. Fwiw, you might find travel a bit easier if you get an early (alpine) start. Miles of slush can be fatiguing...

Oh, here's what Baldy looked like yesterday. I started a small slide in the bowl in the early afternoon:
http://picasaweb.google.com/EManBevHill ... directlink

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 1:59 am
by Luciano136
Man, I can't believe there's still that much snow up there!!

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 4:28 am
by EManBevHills
Soggy, if you ain't the early bird, Bruno!

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 5:09 am
by Deb
Baldy Bowl looks like a big shit stain today...ON the climber's left; great rockfall area.

As for sloggin' San Jac and Gorgonio......pfffft! I'm an old lady and I've dayhiked both these bitches early Spring without snowshoes - post-hole YES - but I've done them both in under 12 hours in exhausting conditions.

It is definitely corn conditions in San Bernardinos, I would hazard to guess that San G will have great corn on South Fork. Great thing about snow.....you don't NEED a trail. Blaze one of your own!

Have fun!

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 5:18 am
by KathyW
If you're headed up to San Jacinto, this is what it looked like last Saturday (4/10/10):

View over to Jean and Marion Peaks from Mount San Jacinto last Saturday:
Image

View over toward the Santa Rosas and the Desert Divide from Mount San Jacinto last Saturday:
Image

PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 5:02 am
by WoundedKnee
Thanks everyone again for the info. It helped me have an enjoyable trip.

Did Jacinto via the Marion Mtn trail. Needed crampons above 7300' on Sunday. Realized I forgot my sunglasses at this point and had to go back to the car to get them. The trail was hard for me to follow, so routefinding issues led to a 13 hour day. Two climbers had left the day before me on this trail - they got lost and were benighted. SAR found them on the Palm Springs side of the mountain!

Bailed on Gorgonio on Monday - didn't want another 14 mile day and snow was basically present at the trailhead. Did a quick hike up Morton Peak instead. Nice views.

Did the Baldy Bowl (thanks for the suggestion) on Monday. Ice axe and crampons needed past the hut. Fun climb, although Baldy was socked in the whole time. Got hit with the storm just below the top. I had on every article of clothing I brought with me.

On the way back to the Bay Area I did Frazier Mountain. The road was gated at the ranger station, making for a dull 14 mile road hike. Stormy weather there too.

I envy you California folks. Must be nice to have a good training spot like Baldy that close.

PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:49 pm
by goldenhopper
WoundedKnee wrote:Thanks everyone again for the info. It helped me have an enjoyable trip.

Did Jacinto via the Marion Mtn trail. Needed crampons above 7300' on Sunday. Realized I forgot my sunglasses at this point and had to go back to the car to get them. The trail was hard for me to follow, so routefinding issues led to a 13 hour day. Two climbers had left the day before me on this trail - they got lost and were benighted. SAR found them on the Palm Springs side of the mountain!

Bailed on Gorgonio on Monday - didn't want another 14 mile day and snow was basically present at the trailhead. Did a quick hike up Morton Peak instead. Nice views.

Did the Baldy Bowl (thanks for the suggestion) on Monday. Ice axe and crampons needed past the hut. Fun climb, although Baldy was socked in the whole time. Got hit with the storm just below the top. I had on every article of clothing I brought with me.

On the way back to the Bay Area I did Frazier Mountain. The road was gated at the ranger station, making for a dull 14 mile road hike. Stormy weather there too.

I envy you California folks. Must be nice to have a good training spot like Baldy that close.


Take any photos?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:50 am
by KathyW
WoundedKnee wrote:Thanks everyone again for the info. It helped me have an enjoyable trip.

Did Jacinto via the Marion Mtn trail. Needed crampons above 7300' on Sunday. Realized I forgot my sunglasses at this point and had to go back to the car to get them. The trail was hard for me to follow, so routefinding issues led to a 13 hour day. Two climbers had left the day before me on this trail - they got lost and were benighted. SAR found them on the Palm Springs side of the mountain!

Bailed on Gorgonio on Monday - didn't want another 14 mile day and snow was basically present at the trailhead. Did a quick hike up Morton Peak instead. Nice views.

Did the Baldy Bowl (thanks for the suggestion) on Monday. Ice axe and crampons needed past the hut. Fun climb, although Baldy was socked in the whole time. Got hit with the storm just below the top. I had on every article of clothing I brought with me.

On the way back to the Bay Area I did Frazier Mountain. The road was gated at the ranger station, making for a dull 14 mile road hike. Stormy weather there too.

I envy you California folks. Must be nice to have a good training spot like Baldy that close.


Thanks for the report. We went up Vivian Creek to San G. last Saturday - it was still mostly snow from Vivian Creek Camp up to the summit, so a long 11 hours hiking up and down, plus an hour spent on the summit - that would have been tough after your long day on San Jacinto. Morton Peak is a great little peak - I often head up that fire road when I want to try to jog up a hill.