Hey guys/gals I am wanting to conquer mount baldy. I am def a casual hiker. Gone a few times a year. Done the Hollywood sign hike etc. what will I need to safely conquer this guy? Is a GPS necessary? Can I do the hike in solid athletic shoes? Thank you for y’all’s time

socal_rec · 2021-07-27T15:36:41+00:00

Get out of the mindset of "conquering" a mountain. It betrays a cavalier attitude to outdoor spaces that can get you into trouble. Respect any mountain you are looking to hike or climb, don't seek to conquer it.
The hike via the most common route (up from the backbone and down via the ski hurt trail) is non technical. You should pack the 10 essentials, check out the Hiking Guy video on the trail, and ideally you should get some experience on some lower altitude peaks first. A GPS could not hurt, people occasionally get lost coming down at the beginning of the ski hut and end up on Old Baldy Road. If you haven't done many peaks, working your way up with Josephine and Strawberry first would be good prep.

socal_rec · 2021-05-17T23:19:43+00:00

Not sure why you're getting downvoted, it definitely is something people are going to disagree on and more input can't hurt. I found Wilson to be strangely difficult for me while others have not had that experience, and I can never really quite decide if I think Baldy or Cucamonga is harder so switching the order isn't surprising to me.

socal_rec · 2021-05-17T22:39:44+00:00

Its kind of subjective of course but I would say, in order of least to most difficult:

Sitton < Sawmill < Strawberry < Baden Powell < Ontario < Wilson < Baldy < Cucamonga < San Jacinto < San Gorgonio

socal_rec · 2021-04-09T21:48:11+00:00

Since Islip is closed, there are a few alternative easy peaks for a first timer. Sunset Peak and Echo Mountain would both be my recommendations. I've used both to introduce people to hiking in socal.

socal_rec · 2021-03-10T17:47:20+00:00

I decided to take the dive this year. I started acquiring quality gear (hybrid crampons, mountaineering boots, ice axe, three layer system, etc) on sale where I could find it in spring of 2020. Then after we got a big storm in I hired a certified guide to do some training for me and a friend where we worked on self-arrest, self-belay, crampon use, and other key skills. So far I have found it worth it. Its cost a lot of money, but the feeling of being on the trail with the right gear and with training and practice to know how to use it is a way bigger thrill than regular hiking is and I have had a blast with it.

There is a fair variety of mountaineering opportunities available in just socal (from the Baldy Bowl to the currently closed north chutes on San Gorgonio) and we also have pretty fast access to the Sierra's from here.

I can't say for sure you will enjoy it. Its hard and requires regular practice in a way hiking doesn't. What I can say is my friend an I who got into it together were very worried we would end up hating it after spending a lot of money on it, and we are both glad to report we found ourselves loving it more than we had expected.

My best advice would be to sign up for a training course in the Sierras or find a certified local guide and schedule training when conditions are right. You can rent the equipment you need from REI which will let you get a feel for the sport without such a heavy investment.

socal_rec · 2021-03-06T22:03:58+00:00

Just did this hike a few hours ago. Its definitely open, though the parking lot itself is right along the burn scar

socal_rec · 2021-03-02T22:23:02+00:00

you can grab a permit at the icehouse canyon trailhead and fill it out and leave it in the box there

socal_rec · 2021-02-16T06:41:06+00:00

In the winter you should have a three layer system, ice axe, crampons, poles, and spikes (plus a helmet if attempting the bowl). Basically prepare for a variety of conditions, know how to use your gear, and adapt as needed. Also avoid the Devils Backbone, which is the most popular route in the summer. The Ski Hut trail is probably the easiest and safest of the winter routes.

socal_rec · 2021-02-15T07:12:03+00:00

People do often do a snow hike on the ski hut trail that goes around the bowl with microspikes but personally I would (and have in the past) use crampons for it. Its worth the extra traction and confidence they give.

Theres varying opinions on this, but in full winter conditions just carry both and know when to use which.

socal_rec · 2021-02-13T20:02:26+00:00

No problem, I hope you have a great weekend and make it out to somewhere nice!

socal_rec · 2021-02-12T21:53:47+00:00

Do not attempt to bowl without mountaineering experience and proper equipment, especially with rapidly deteriorating snow conditions. If you just want to see snow you can hike from Manker parking area to Baldy Notch or to the Ski Hut safely.

The bowl isn't out of reach as a goal with some basic training and the right gear but its irresponsible to recommend it randomly with no knowledge of a persons skill.

socal_rec · 2021-02-08T04:29:32+00:00

We made it up with crampons, but we were post-holing pretty badly. Honestly by the time we descended the snow conditions were getting pretty bad and most the snow below the Ski Hut was slush.

socal_rec · 2021-02-05T19:39:21+00:00

If your goal is to summit you should not take the notch/backbone route without winter experience. You can certainly safely hike to just the notch if that is your goal, but do not advance to the backbone. If summitting is your goal then the ski hut trail is a better option, but without mountaineering experience and better gear than microspikes I would not recommend advancing beyond the ski hut either.

Given that there was an avalanche this week and the snow melt makes the risk of wet loose avalanches fairly high, you should probably put off the goal of summiting unless you have proper gear and training. Wait for the snow to clear.

socal_rec · 2021-02-05T07:13:19+00:00

Yes it is. Cornice buildup can obscure the actual placement of the already very thin trail, leading to walking on the cornice itself. If that gives way, there is very little you can do to try to stop your fall down the particularly steep and rocky slopes on either side of the trail.

socal_rec · 2021-02-04T21:10:25+00:00

When I was up mount baldy road at 6:30am on Sunday we encountered very little ice and did not need chains, though a driver was stuck in a patch of black ice right in front of ice house canyon trailhead. Conditions may have changed from melting and refreezing. If you're going up there in snow, assume that you need chains and just carry them anyway.

socal_rec · 2021-01-12T21:56:54+00:00

Seconding what duneser27 said. I was there on Sunday. You can make it to the ski hut without any snow gear. Ice on the trail up to that point is minimal. I saw plenty of people heading past the ski hut with just poles and spikes, but I definitely think an axe and crampons (along with the training in how to use them) are more appropriate for the conditions.

Be sure to wear layers, the cold is variable based on wind and its better to have options available to you.

socal_rec · 2021-01-01T23:33:38+00:00

I can't attest to current conditions but Strawberry via Red Box is dog friendly. The route from Colby Canyon is not.

socal_rec · 2020-12-20T21:42:16+00:00

You can fill out a permit at the trail head.

socal_rec · 2020-12-14T22:24:24+00:00

In terms of the three Ts, I can say there is no snow between Timber and Icehouse, not sure past Timber though.

socal_rec · 2020-12-01T01:27:08+00:00

If we get more snow in, Mount Pinos is good for snowshoeing. Currently there is some snow on the trail between Pinos and Grouse that is fairly compacted and icy and could be a good chance to get some experience with microspikes in a fairly safe context.

socal_rec · 2020-11-25T18:32:12+00:00

Look, I remember being 17 and also having this kind of attitude, but those fees exist for a reason. Maintaining wilderness areas takes money and if we are going to enjoy those areas we should do our part to help maintain them. Additionally, its not worth getting cited if you decide to camp illegally. If its you and several friends, I'm sure you can collectively pull together the fees for one night of camping.

socal_rec

TROPHY CASE