SNOW - Questions, Forecasts & Reports About Snow

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:16 am

edenooch wrote:Is it true the last 2.5 miles upto wilson summit are iced over?
Some one told me last night thats the shade side of the mountain and the chutes off the side ofhte trail are bad and some one died there already!

A girl from an Outdoors Club hike died there in '08. She slipped on the ice and fell down one of the chutes. There were also some rescues later that month. What seems to happen is people cross the snow during the day when it's soft then it ices over in the afternoon when they try to go back but they don't have crampons and ice axe to cross it safely.

New ice team gets work out

By Mary O’Keefe

From a vantage point in La Crescenta, Mt. Wilson looks clear of snow, but snow still covers the north face of the peak. It is this winter blanket that has kept the Montrose Search and Rescue Team members busy the last two weekends.

“March 2 was an extremely busy day,” said Mike Leum, a longtime rescue team member. The team was first activated at noon on a call concerning a 20-year-old mountain biker with a broken leg.

The cyclist was on the road near Red Box and Switzer Falls when he fell from his bike and injured his leg.

The team responded at first with assistance from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Air Five helicopter, but the wind was too strong for the chopper.

“We had to carry him out,” Leum said.

Later that afternoon the team received a rescue call for another mountain biker in his mid-20s.

“We were notified that a man had slipped and broken his ankle on the north side of Mt. Wilson, on the other side of the radio towers,” Leum said.

The biking partner of the injured man had made it to an area where his cellphone could get reception. As he was waiting for the rescue, seven hikers, two men and five women, came upon him.

“We came around the corner and found this guy in basketball shorts and a T-shirt,” said hiker Tracy Andreen of Los Angeles.

Andreen said that she and her companions were just beginning to put more layers of clothing on because of the weather. They were hiking on DeVore Trail to the top of Mount Wilson.

“It was a shock to see this guy dressed like that sitting there,” she said.

The man explained what happened and Andreen’s brother Keith walked the path and found the injured biker in a tree. He helped him back to the path and they waited for the rescue.

Los Angeles County Air Five helicopter was the first on the scene. Air Five rescue members cabled both the injured man and his friend into the helicopter.

They advised the seven hikers that they should not go any further due to weather, but they continued on the path to the top of Mt. Wilson.

“We went forward because we didn’t see any ice and we didn’t think it would take much longer [to reach the top],” Andreen said.

The seven were experienced hikers and are training for a Mount Whitney climb in June. Although they were prepared for the original planned their schedule was altered by the injured biker.

“We couldn’t just leave him there,” Andreen said.

Not long after continuing on their they realized it was getting a lot colder and the ice was increasing.

“We were prepared, we had walked through the snow, but we weren’t prepared for the ice [that had since developed],” Andreen said.

About two feet of snow and ice covered the area. The rescue team was notified by Air Five that the seven hikers now needed help.

Team members Robert Sheedy, Jason Johnson and Leum had to use ice equipment and crawl across the “rock-hard ice,” Leum said.

“This [stranded] group had also started from the back of the mountain and were not prepared for climbing in the ice,” Leum said.

Andreen said that by the time they saw the Montrose Search and Rescue team members they were relieved, although they were only about a half a mile from the top Mt. Wilson so the emotion was mixed with a little regret.

“We were so close,” she said.

“We spent the rest of the night walking them out,” Leum said. “We had to put harnesses on them and guide them across the ice.”

“People look up at Mt. Wilson and it looks bone dry. What they don’t realize is the north facing side of the mountain doesn’t get much sun,” Leum said.

Andreen said that being rescued was a surreal experience but she was glad to see them.

“We cannot say enough good things about these guys,” Andreen said.

“They were professional and we had a delightful chat the five hours it took as we hiked out of the area,” she added.

The upside of the rescue was the information Andreen and the other hikers learned from the team members about ice and snow.

“Who would ever think I would own an ice ax, but I do now,” Andreen said.

The snow caught four Burbank men, also in their early 20s, off guard on Sunday, March 9, when they had to call for a rescue.

“We [rescued] all four guys,” Leum said. “They didn’t have one jacket among them.”

Team members continue training this weekend when they travel to the Mammoth Lakes area to scale a frozen waterfall.

Ze Hiker · Post by **Ze Hiker** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:49 pm

they weren't on the old mt wilson trail though, I think. The girl that died went up via Sturtevant I think forum discussion

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:35 pm

Zé wrote:they weren't on the old mt wilson trail though, I think. The girl that died went up via Sturtevant I think forum discussion

You're right, she was on the trail that leaves Sturtevant. This one goes around the north side for a ways and there are steep chutes over there. Is the old mt wilson trail that trail that leaves the parking lot and sort of parallels the dirt road that goes up to the antennas?

Ze Hiker · Post by **Ze Hiker** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:54 pm

you've never been on the Old Mt Wilson trail? it's like the oldest trail in the area!

acme

basically it starts in Sierra Madre at 'C'. Meets up with the toll road at 'B' (high up) then it mirrors the toll road for like a mile from 'A' to the top.

Post by **HikeUp** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:20 pm

Click for full size...

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 5:59 pm

Thanks HikeUp for the map. I'm a total n00b when it comes to that area. Have only done the Sturtevant-Wilson-Winter Cr loop.

Liz · Post by **Liz** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:21 pm

The Sturtevant trail (upper switchbacks) can get very icy! I used crampons on that trail last December.

Ze Hiker · Post by **Ze Hiker** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:50 am

hvydrt · Post by **hvydrt** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:59 am

Very Nice!

Post by **Taco** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 8:16 am

Took some pics just now. Snow level in the foothills is around 4,300ft on southern aspects.

gregp909 · Post by **gregp909** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:03 pm

"Uh, is that a cucumber in your pocket or are you just excited by all the snow?"

I second Borat -- very nice! Thanks for sharing!

Post by **HikeUp** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:53 pm

Sam Page · Post by **Sam Page** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:00 pm

Roughly two more feet of snow is forecasted for the Mt. Baldy area on Tuesday/Wednesday.

CMC-OC · Post by **CMC-OC** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:36 pm

Hey all:

I know this is sortof wayy in advance, but my friends and I (just three plus me) are planning on doing a gear/technique trip up Baldy to prepare for Whitney on April 10-11.

Will there still be a significant amount of snow? Or at least enough to practice on? I'm really unfamiliar with So-Cal weather.

In addition, anyone who wants to brush up on techniques, tutor some n00bcakes, or just come up Baldy with four pretty fit kids who want to learn from you masters of the mountains, feel free to come along!

PS: Taco, I have your bivvie sack for whenever you want it. It served its purpose perfectly, kept the wee little bit of rain off me, and impressed the Marines with their big tents

Post by **Taco** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:50 pm

I think the Bizowl will still be climbable then.

I be pickin' dat sheeyit up soon, nigga.

EManBevHills · Post by **EManBevHills** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:31 pm

weather.gov
National Weather Service

Watches, Warnings & Advisories

Local weather forecast by "City, St" or zip code

One product issued by NWS for: Mount Baldy

Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
315 PM PDT MON APR 19 2010

CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-210100-
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CENTRAL COAST-
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CENTRAL COAST-SANTA YNEZ VALLEY-
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-CUYAMA VALLEY-
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SOUTH COAST-VENTURA COUNTY COAST-
LOS ANGELES COUNTY COAST INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES-
VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS-
SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA-
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE-
ANTELOPE VALLEY-CATALINA ISLAND-SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY-
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY-
315 PM PDT MON APR 19 2010

...ANOTHER LATE SEASON STORM SYSTEM EXPECTED TO AFFECT SOUTHWEST
CALIFORNIA TUESDAY THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY...

A COLD UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DROPPING THROUGH THE EASTERN
PACIFIC IS FORECAST TO APPROACH THE COAST OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
TUESDAY. ITS FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL LIKELY BRING RAIN TO SAN LUIS
OBISPO AND SANTA BABARA COUNTIES TUESDAY...WITH A GOOD CHANCE OF AT
LEAST SOME RAIN ACROSS VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES IN THE
AFTERNOON.

BEHIND THE FRONT...RAIN WILL TURN TO SHOWERS ON THE CENTRAL COAST
TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND ELSEWHERE TUESDAY EVENING. GUSTY WEST WINDS
WILL DEVELOP IN MANY COASTAL AREAS AND IN THE MOUNTAINS...AS WELL AS
THE ANTELOPE VALLEY.

COMPUTER MODELS SHOW THE UPPER LOW MOVING INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
TUESDAY NIGHT...THEN SHOW IT WOBBLING AROUND THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH
BANDS OF MOISTURE PUSHING INTO SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. WHILE IT
CERTAINLY WILL NOT RAIN THE ENTIRE TIME...THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AT TIMES ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY
THURSDAY.

VERY COLD AIR ALOFT WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION TUESDAY NIGHT AND
LINGER INTO WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL DESTABILIZE THE ATMOSPHERE...
LEADING TO A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS.
SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER DRAMATICALLY TUESDAY NIGHT...LIKELY DOWN TO
AROUND 3500 FEET...WITH LOW SNOW LEVELS CONTINUING ON WEDNESDAY.
SNOW COULD AFFECT TRAVEL ON PORTIONS OF INTERSTATE 5 THROUGH THE
GRAPEVINE...AND COULD EVEN AFFECT THE FOOTHILLS ABOVE THE ANTELOPE
AND CUYAMA VALLEYS...AND THE INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTY LATE TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

WHILE THE MAIN FRONT WILL LIKELY BRING STEADY LIGHT PRECIPITATION TO
MOST OF THE REGION ON TUESDAY...THE SHOWERY NATURE OF THE
PRECIPITATION FROM TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY WILL LEAD TO
HIGHLY VARIABLE STORM TOTALS. PRELIMINARY RAINFALL ESTIMATES ACROSS
SAN LUIS OBISPO AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE
BETWEEN ONE THIRD AND THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH (0.33 TO 0.75) IN
COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS...AND ONE HALF INCH TO ONE INCH (0.50 TO
1.00) IN THE FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS...WITH LOCAL TOTALS OVER AN
INCH POSSIBLE. ACROSS LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES...RAINFALL IS
EXPECTED TO AVERAGE ONE TENTH TO ONE THIRD OF AN INCH (0.10 TO 0.33)
IN COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS...AND ONE THIRD TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN
INCH (0.33 TO 0.75) IN THE FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS...WITH TOTALS
OVER AN INCH NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW ARE
POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS...AND MAY REQUIRE THE ISSUANCE OF A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY AS WE DRAW CLOSER TO THE EVENT.

THERE IS STILL CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY IN THE EXACT TRACK OF THE
UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. RAINFALL TOTALS WILL BE HIGHLY
SENSITIVE TO EVEN A SMALL DEVIATION OF THE CURRENT EXPECTED TRACK.
IF THE SYSTEM TRACKS FARTHER SOUTH AND WEST...RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL
BE GREATER...WHILE A FARTHER INLAND TRACK WILL RESULT IN MUCH LESS
RAIN.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL MEDIA FOR
UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.

$$

GOMBERG/BRUNO

U.S. Dept. of Commerce
NOAA National Weather Service
1325 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
E-mail: w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov
Page last modified: May 16, 2007
Disclaimer
Credits
Glossary
Privacy Policy
About Us
Career Opportunities
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: for Safety, for Work, for Fun - FOR LIFE

simonov · Post by **simonov** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:11 am

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... &map.y=154

simonov · Post by **simonov** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 7:45 am

Saturday is going to be perfect climbing weather!

Anyone have any ideas what the avalanche danger will be like on Baldy so soon after new snow?

I do believe I will try to climb Ontario Peak. I don't think there are any avalanche fields along the traditional route, are there?

Funyan005 · Post by **Funyan005** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 9:46 am

There is an avalanche path from I believe Telegraph about half a mile before the saddle. I doubt there will be enough snow to cause it tough.

James · Post by **James** » Wed May 19, 2010 3:42 pm

Worth climbing that is? Other than in the Sierra? Maybe Baden-Powell?

Sam Page · Post by **Sam Page** » Wed May 19, 2010 6:06 pm

The north side of Jepson Peak or San Gorgonio are excellent right now. Multiple couloirs on Charlton Peak appear to be in good shape too.

James · Post by **James** » Thu May 20, 2010 12:12 pm

Thanks, those are great. Anything else out there or is it about done? Been up SG on the north side a few times this year so wanted to try something new. I think the north side of BP is done too?

Post by **Taco** » Fri May 21, 2010 1:23 am

North sides of lotsa local peaks. Harwood is good to go.

James · Post by **James** » Fri May 21, 2010 8:52 am

Cool, thanks

cougarmagic · Post by **cougarmagic** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:42 pm

One to two inches above 7k', tomorrow and tomorrow night.

Are you FREAKING OUT yet??

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 5:19 pm

I'm freakin' happy, is that close enough?

HJ

bertfivesix · Post by **bertfivesix** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 7:03 pm

omigodomigodomigodomigodomigodohijustpoopedalittle

norma r · Post by **norma r** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:28 am

Happy dance... in my La Sportiva's!

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 9:20 am

bertfivesix wrote:omigodomigodomigodomigodomigodohijustpoopedalittle

Post by **Taco** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 3:53 pm

HEY GUYS, SNOW IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. YOU COULD BECOME MILDLY-UNCOMFORTABLE OUT THERE!

Also, type in all caps and don't use caffeine or something.