Long time lurker first time poster.
After failing to reach Ice House Saddle Friday (my friend and I were in white out conditions at 6900' where the trail disappeared) I decided to try again today in better weather.
As usual the trail started out icy because of all the foot traffic but eventually turned into packed snow. I caught up to two other hikers who were headed to the saddle and we leapfrogged a few times until we met at 6900’ (where the large switchbacks start). Again the trail stopped so we started up the north slope keeping the drainage to our right. Even with snowshoes we would sometimes sink up to our knees.
Eventually we reached the saddle where the two hikers stopped and I continued up to Bighorn. I started straight up with the snow conditions perfect for snowshoeing. About halfway up the wind picked up and I would hit an occasional wind scoured snow patch where my shoes would barely make a dent.
After winding through the trees (the ice bombs were huge) I finally made the peak with great views all around. Unbelievable all the snow up there right now. So different then last year.
I had thoughts of doing Ontario but after seeing that ridge I quickly got over that. I would have needed some help breaking that trail. After taking some pics I headed down where I met a guy coming up who was going to do Cucamonga but after trying to do the regular trail route decided against it and came up Bighorn’s NE ridge.
I continued down to the saddle where there must have been 25 people milling around.
I headed down the drainage where luckily no one had gone down yet and I was met with some awesome powder. In some places it was like swimming in snow up to your waist. Fantastic! I followed the drainage all the way back to the wilderness boundary and was back in the parking lot in no time where the usual parking lot high jinks were in full force.After this next storm it will only get better up there
Ice House Saddle
Trail signs
Going up Bighorn
Killer Ice
Bighorn Peak
Ontario Ridge
Baldy
Cucamonga
Timber
Saddle crowd
