Guys at Ski Net said they were up there Sunday and it was rad
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Guys at Ski Net said they were up there Sunday and it was rad
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4/6 storm snow fell with a shitload of swe and flash-froze. should make for primo corn skiing up on baldy this weekend.
https://vimeo.com/322049218
https://vimeo.com/322049218
Sunrise looks awesome.
Charleton/ Jepson good 2 weeks ago. Masssive debris field at the bottom of Charleton. Snow tonight, maybe a lap Wednesday?
Weather forecast for Saturday 3/9 was looking perfect for nice conditions on the Baldy peak chutes, but it ended up being colder and more windy than forecast.
Search and rescue at the trailhead is telling:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190309_073008.jpg
The ski hut:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190309_091143.jpg
In the past I either get to the peak from the Devils backbone or in the general area of the summer trail. Was being lazy and wanted to see if south facing snow was getting soft so started up the hiker route in the middle of the bowl. Soft ball sized rock went whizzing past me, then a aluminum water bottle, then a softball sized block of falling ice hit my knee...so I swung far right avoiding being below the dumb hikers.
Coverage in the chutes is really good:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190309_095750.jpg
Mt. Harwood:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190309_103527.jpg
Hard to show in a photo, but there was 1/4" clear ice on top of the snow in most places. Some windblown powder in others.
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190309_103541.jpg
Off the summit toward the chutes was very firm. Zen chute might have been ok, but the others easier ones looked very firm. The steeper ones has a couple inches of windblown on ice and I wasn't confirmable managing sluff or windslab on those. So waited at the top of The Dare for 30 min hoping the upper half would soften. The fog started rolling in couple hours earlier than normal, so I gave up on any of the chute and skied far skiers left of the southern bowl. A few firm turns at the start, but otherwise nice skiing, pov video:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/MAH00830_480.mp4
Hopefully get another chance at some of the chutes this year, it has been a few years since I skied any of them.
Some real nice skiing at Baldy yesterday, Andy's and Herb's had boot to knee deep pow and Skyline is excellent. South Bowl should open today (below photo). This weekend will be sunny and full-on Spring fun.Attachment 273865
was hoping to find some soft-ish wind transported in the sheltered hourglass chute on baldy this morning. there wasn't any. fully wind-fucked. it wasn't that fun. the corn will be awesome for the next couple of days though!
https://vimeo.com/323543897
https://vimeo.com/323543897
Yeah, south-facing treed aspects collected the most snow this storm.
Oh, I know that sound. I had subtitles on for the first part of Ep 5 of The FIFTY and it said [horrible nails on a chalk board sound], a good description.
Should be good in the mountains this weekend. I'm off to Big Bear with the family, hopefully get 1 backcountry day in and several sessions on the magic carpet with the 3 yo.
Found ~2k vertical ft of cold powder yesterday on Sugarloaf mountain near Big Bear. Steep north facing treed slopes above 8k ft should be good. Measured 135 cm of snow in my pit at 9k!
Glad you guys are having a good year, finally.
A few photos from this last weekend (3/15) at Big Bear. Took the kid on the magic carpet Friday and then I made some lift served tele turns for a few hours, been a few years since I dropped the knee.
Saturday 3/16 skinned up Sugarloaf. Snow got soft and views of the lake started:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190316_114255.jpg
Not much view on the top, due to flat summit and trees:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190316_115052.jpg
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190316_115448.jpg
Mellow terrain for first pitch, pov video:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/MAH00834_001.mp4
Started to look like it was getting steeper, so stopped and dug a pit...was impressed with how well the new snow was sticking to ice layer. Also the depth of snow.
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190316_122825.jpg
POV video of the next few turns:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/MAH00836.MP4
Easy ski out and made it all the way back to the gate with only a couple no snow sections:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190316_130622.jpg
Monday I skinned from cabin up to one of the lifts at Bear Mtn, had hoped to ski the south facing slopes, but too melted out.
Nice views at the top:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190318_092108.jpg
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190318_093053.jpg
Ski down was not very good, but fun adventure.
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190318_105853.jpg
Took the kid back to the magic carpet:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190318_130114.jpg
Working on the pizza:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190318_132318.jpg
Planning to give the chutes on Baldy peak another shot this Sunday.
I went out to the baldy chutes for my first time 2 weekends ago. I dropped into the furthers lookers left chute which looked like good corn. Turned out it was a few inches of soft snow sitting on top of and poorly bonded to a sheet of ice. I was happy to have my ice axe in hand! Was fun once I made it out of the steep section into the apron. Hoping to get out there some more this spring and also explore some other areas in socal and the sierra.Quote:
Originally Posted by 406
I'm also trying to get out there this spring - LMK if you're looking for a touring buddy (goes for anyone, really).
406 - thanks for the heads up on the thread.
-J
Baldy kicked ass this weekend, so good. The party & BBQ on the deck of #3 was going off this afternoon.
I scored perfect spring conditions on the Hourglass Chute on Baldy peak Sunday 3/24. Started skiing down around 11:30.
View toward Thunder mtn:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190324_095643.jpg
Hourglass:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190324_102622.jpg
Girlyman was looking very filled in, but ~8" of mank on firm...I guess it got cooked early due to the rock wall. I was tempted, but didn't want to manage that large of slough into the dogleg.
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190324_103054.jpg
Plus the hourglass has longer section of steep.
POV video of the run from top to bottom. I don't have the camera pointing up enough for GS turns in the bowl, but you get the idea, snow was perfect:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/MAH00848_480.mp4
Just a few turns below the cabin, but as always on the weekend, entertaining people watching on the hike out.
^ Real nice work! Chutes looked fat from the top of chair 3.
Heard through the grapevine that someone had a rough day on Telegraph last Friday. Don't have all the details, but heard they skied/boarded partway down one of the chutes when rockfall knocked them off their feet, than another big rock impacted a boulder above them and exploded into softball sized pieces. One of the chunks struck them in the head (no helmet) and rendered them unconscious, and they slid/tumbled down the rest of the chute. Medivac out.
Forecast is looking perfect for the weekend. Can't decide what I want to do:
1. Final day at baldy resort skiing, last day of chair 4.
2. Looks like 2 is open, easy access bc.
3. New to me zone in San jacinto, but snow line might be too high already.
Looks like I'm rolling solo, so if someone wants to join, shoot me a pm.
Coverage as of yesterday, which was closing day for Chair 4. Top half of chair 1 still goes, but you'll be hiking the bottom half.
Attachment 276613
Digital zoom from moving chair, but gives you an idea of the coverage in the chutes.
Attachment 276612
Jepson Bowl on Saturday, photo by Jake Collins (posted to Facebook). Looking fat and bulletproof, climbers used crampons and ice axes with apparently zero boot penetration except in areas with wind deposits.
Checked out a new to me area on Saturday 3/30, Chute #2 on Tahquitz Peak. I had never seen any info on someone skiing back there, but after the trip found a mountaineering website with info on the 3 chutes off the NW ridge. Kind of a boring name for such an awesome chute, but I guess that is what happens when the mountaineers get to name things.
2005 I first noticed the area and had been wanting to get back in there and check it out, this photo I took in April 2005:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/devils...0410050003.jpg
This winter was good, but no 2005. Found this photo online from 3/23 and I knew there would be a lot of melting midweek, so was on the fence about going:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/201903...7197062036.jpg
Figured it would bug me all summer if I didn't go check it out, so drove up, but looked bleak from the trailhead. Such a scenic area and moon above Lily Rock, I figured might as well go for a hike with the skis:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_081106.jpg
Had a navigation mistake and spent a bunch of time bush whacking:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_084757.jpg
Easy going after getting on patchy snow around 6800 ft. First skiable option came into view, good looking bowl:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_095836.jpg
Chute 1, with some 5th class at the top:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_094633.jpg
half way up Chute 2, love the high quality granite walls:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_103516.jpg
The crux was a solid 45 degrees and ~3 ft wide with mixed snow conditions:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_104828.jpg
After that, easy walk up to the fire look out:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_112750.jpg
Had the POV camera going for the down climb, but encountered some technology issues and was to puckered and impatient to deal with the video camera until I got down to the ~40 degree section. Seemed easy on the way up, but was scary on the down climb:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_120613.jpg
Dug out a ledge to click into the dynafiddles:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_120610.jpg
Felt much better having skis on, made a few turns and then got the video camera working:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/MAH00854_480.mp4
Snow was perfect. Rejoined the drainage at 7600 and that was actually a fun ski down to 7080:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/MAH00856_480.mp4
Cool area, would like to get back in there next good winter and check out the other chutes and bowls. Snow is melting fast!
Attachment 276847Attachment 276848Attachment 276850
Fun off hwy2 yesterday couple I snapped off while i was there. Might go again Wednesday if anyone’s down DM me.
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So rad looking!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by 406
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Looks like a helluva day in an awesome place 406. Nice work.
Gonna try to get up to the chutes on Sat or Sun, still figuring it out. My lard ass will be slow as hell, don't want to drag down any of you hard-chargers, but maybe I'll see some of you up there. Will be the out-of-breath guy on yellow ZeroG boots and green ZeroG skis.
https://alpine.ugcs.caltech.edu/inde...dy_Bowl_Chutes
Attachment 277337
How did I JUST come across this thread? That dude might've been me -- smurf blue jacket, gray helmet with a big M on the front on a pair of Down SD95s. Former gate basher that just moved back out from the EC, so I'm definitely rolling a bit of the racer steeze.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1000-oaks
I have a 50 mile mountain bike ride planned for Saturday, but assuming I can walk the next morning, planning to ski Baldy ski area Sunday. Will be on black Super Bros.
I skied back there a number of years ago. Put up a TR here. Super cool zone. I took the summer trail up to the snow line and skinned from there.Quote:
Originally Posted by 406
Edit. Looks like it was 2012.
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...tside-and-Back
Hit Baldy Bowl today, got a late start so only one run. Really manky on the bottom half. Unless we get another good freeze, the depth of the glop is sketchy (knee to thigh deep postholing) and is probably even worse in the sun-baked chutes. I headed looker's left into the trees for safer snow, where it was only boot-height penetration. No doubt northern aspects are much better.
Attachment 277656
Attachment 277655
Attachment 277654
Attachment 277653
Got carrots?
Attachment 277657
Attachment 277642Attachment 277643Attachment 277644
Some fun to be had off hwy2 just crawling out of my sleeping bag getting ready for a fun filled day.
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^^^Nice. CalTrans web page doesn't mention that the gate at Vincent Gap is closed, but I guess it is?
Did my final SoCal lift served of the season yesterday 4/7. Skied 10:30-2:30 non stop and conditions were perfect depending on aspect. South Bowl/tube is closed. Herbs, etc, melted out. Just patches on north face of chair one.
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/MAH00862_480.mp4
Last run of the season at Baldy for me:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/MAH00864_480.mp4
Cool, not sure how I missed that first time around. I agree, don't think I would want to be back there with fresh snow, even the more "mellow" terrain is steep and not many escape routes. The chute I booted/skied is with the red arrow on your photo:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ottime
Attachment 277732
So needs a good snow year to fill in. Would be awesome to be on snow from the parking lot.
Awesome man, looking forward to your report. Your tow rig is awesome, did you make camp on the road?Quote:
Originally Posted by sticksplitman
Nicely done, was wondering if you were going to find an clean exit after traversing that far down, lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by 406
Edit soon boys might be into another missions soon. Everything was sliding by mid day! To warm.
Attachment 277868Attachment 277869
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Was thinking Telegraph on Friday while the lifts still get you most of the way there, but not too keen on it if windy and low vis.
I would join you but can’t justify buying lift ticket for a bump. Been wanting to drone that peak video would be mentalQuote:
Originally Posted by 1000-oaks
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Lifts are down to just Sat & Sun for next two weekends, beginning of the end. I'll probably be in-bounds on Sunday.
Texted Sticksplitman and Dkla52 about a possible Friday mission. 406?