Hey everyone, was wondering if anyone was planning on climbing the bowl either the 20th of 21st. I dont really want to go solo so was wondering if I could tag along with anyone, thanks

Since that's a weekend, I'm sure there will be many people up there climbing the bowl. If you can't find someone ahead of time, just try to latch on to someone that's already there.

I figured that may be the case, but was wondering whether anyone wanted to meet up there. Thanks for the advice

I've been up it the past three weekends. You will not be alone if you go on those days, even if you wanted to be. The bowl is a very easy and straight forward climb, and if you leave your car at around 8, you will probably be climbing the bowl with 20-30 other people. Also, with how soft the snow has been getting in the pm there, you won't need to worry about falling, we could barely glissade down it on Sunday around noon.

drpw wrote:I've been up it the past three weekends. You will not be alone if you go on those days, even if you wanted to be. The bowl is a very easy and straight forward climb, and if you leave your car at around 8, you will probably be climbing the bowl with 20-30 other people.

Just wondering if there's so many people going to Baldy why everybody keeps going there. There are so many other cool places to visit in So Cal and they see little or no traffic. I've had some great skiing on San Gorgonio. There's also Jepson Peak, and Cucamonga Peak to name a few.

There's always a lot of threads about Baldy but I never see very many on these other peaks. Just curious why people don't branch out more and explore some other areas. Don't get me wrong. I like Baldy too but it just seems like an inordinate amount of people are going there and not going anywhere else.

climb4life wrote:There are so many other cool places to visit in So Cal and they see little or no traffic. I've had some great skiing on San Gorgonio. There's also Jepson Peak, and Cucamonga Peak to name a few.

I reckon it's because Baldy is close and accessible and relatively straightforward, with little gear required beyond crampons and ice axe. It's also the mountain everyone in teh LA area can see, simply by looking up.

San Gorgonio is much farther away for most folks, and the approach is twice the distance of Baldy. The main route from the north is north-facing, so while the skiing is better, the snows are usually deeper and harder to get through.

Cucamonga and Ontario are also north-facing approaches, and so they often require flotation or a lot of post-holing.

Baldy is just big and obvious and easier to get to and, in the end, easier to climb.

Baldy is short and fast and typically has a boot track to at least the Ski Hut. Lots of people also do the trek to San Jacinto via the Palm Springs Tramway in the winter.

Getting to the top of San Gorgonio in the winter via any route takes a lot more effort than getting to the top of San Antonio or San Jacinto via the easiest routes.

I have never been up Baldy I have been up Gorgonio and Jacinto and would like to climb the bowl while there is still snow thats why I wanted to go there this weekend. Anyway yes there are many other climbs which I hope to do at some point also

I agree with redneck and Kathy. Baldy's right there. Also, unlike Cucamonga and Ontario, you get far above timberline so you get some exposure and great views, unlike the others, which are essentially trodding thru forest for 95% of the hike. It's like the Whitney effect. Lots of other great peaks, but since it's the tallest, people are more than willing to put up with lots of company.

TacoDelRio wrote:

climb4life wrote:

drpw wrote:I've been up it the past three weekends. You will not be alone if you go on those days, even if you wanted to be. The bowl is a very easy and straight forward climb, and if you leave your car at around 8, you will probably be climbing the bowl with 20-30 other people.

Just wondering if there's so many people going to Baldy why everybody keeps going there. There are so many other cool places to visit in So Cal and they see little or no traffic. I've had some great skiing on San Gorgonio. There's also Jepson Peak, and Cucamonga Peak to name a few.

There's always a lot of threads about Baldy but I never see very many on these other peaks. Just curious why people don't branch out more and explore some other areas. Don't get me wrong. I like Baldy too but it just seems like an inordinate amount of people are going there and not going anywhere else.

Maybe folks don't like going out of their comfort zones. I've always wondered the same thing.

I've been up it so much lately because it's close, straight forward, and we've had a few friends interested in starting to do snow stuff so we've been taking them with us.

Not to mention that I'm leaving for Tyndall this Thursday and doing laps up the bowl is a good workout for those 100 switchbacks. Baldy is a perfect workout peak, can get some real solid elevation gain and still be back home by noon.

Gary Schenk wrote:

redneck wrote:I reckon it's because Baldy is close and accessible...

Dude, what's with the font? Have you reformed?

Shit! Forgot which forum I was on!

What is the snowpack like now on Baldy? I am from Colorado and am here on business. Went up Mt. Wilson in a 4 hour round trip but there was no snow, only HEAT.

tlerunner wrote:What is the snowpack like now on Baldy? I am from Colorado and am here on business. Went up Mt. Wilson in a 4 hour round trip but there was no snow, only HEAT.

This was from last Thursday: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonov/se ... 5713/show/

This was from Sunday: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonov/se ... 4305/show/

So plenty of snow above, say, 7,500 feet. But as you have noticed it's been warm and the snow is going fast at lower elevations.

climb4life wrote:

drpw wrote:I've been up it the past three weekends. You will not be alone if you go on those days, even if you wanted to be. The bowl is a very easy and straight forward climb, and if you leave your car at around 8, you will probably be climbing the bowl with 20-30 other people.

Just wondering if there's so many people going to Baldy why everybody keeps going there. There are so many other cool places to visit in So Cal and they see little or no traffic. I've had some great skiing on San Gorgonio. There's also Jepson Peak, and Cucamonga Peak to name a few.

There's always a lot of threads about Baldy but I never see very many on these other peaks. Just curious why people don't branch out more and explore some other areas. Don't get me wrong. I like Baldy too but it just seems like an inordinate amount of people are going there and not going anywhere else.

No permits for Baldy, isn't a permit required for San G and others in that area?

outdoorabstract wrote:No permits for Baldy, isn't a permit required for San G and others in that area?

San G requires a permit, but they are easy to get. Just download this form (for a day hike), then fax it in to the number on the form.

For the Cucamonga Wilderness, it's even easier. Just call the Mt Baldy Visitor's Center at 909-982-2829 the day before and they will have a permit waiting for you the next morning, pinned to the board out in front of the building.

Permits are free.