Mt. Baldy 05-01-10

MarkI · Post by **MarkI** » Sun May 02, 2010 7:16 pm

Saturday early solo trip up the Bowl just to stretch the legs and tone the muscles. Snow coverage was sufficient to climb the Bowl in the center and was deep enough still to take axe and crampons just fine. Maybe a couple more weeks and no more snow?? We'll see. REAL windy on top, I estimate 40 + sustained. Met a guy on the way up who had an anemometer with him and measured 29 mph at the Harwood saddle, but the summit was definitely windier than the saddle, so who knows... I definitely want to get one of those cheap anemometers just to satisfy my curiousity about wind velocities. With a temp of around 25 and wind speeds in the 40's wind chill could have been in the neighborhood of around 0 degrees, and the wind and cold had the interesting effect of making it hard for me to breath. It seemed like the wind was sucking the oxygen out of every breath I would take so I would have to breath extra hard just to get enough. Funny feeling I've never had before. Only spent 10 minutes on top and got down ASAP. Did the glissade down the east Bowl and traversed over to the main Bowl after, snow was ok for glissading but not particularly comfortable and of course I put a couple new holes in my favorite snow pants, damn! back to the tailor again.
Met Shin and Darren back at the Hut and sat around there for awhile in the never before seen (by me) custom deluxe plastic lounge chairs they had sitting outside in the sun, wow, all I needed was a nice bourbon and seven and I would have been set! Tons of people up there too. Finally decided to head down and got to the car about 1100. Saw 2 people with wooden ice axes, something I very rarely see even one of. One older looking gentleman said that when he bought his that it was considered the "light weight" model although it looked anything but "light weight" with a very solid, long, substantial oak-like looking handle. Anyway, nice quick workout day on Baldy!

Pictures here: http://markirving.smugmug.com/Hiking/Mt ... 9588_NyNWP

Sam Page · Post by **Sam Page** » Sun May 02, 2010 10:29 pm

Thanks for the conditions report. Looks like we've got a warm, sunny week ahead, so time is running out for snow climbing in SoCal.

norma r · Post by **norma r** » Sun May 02, 2010 10:31 pm

Nice leg stretch Mark!!

The handsomest ice axe i have ever seen belongs to Cy Kaicener.

He said it was circa 1960.

glamisking · Post by **glamisking** » Mon May 03, 2010 12:44 am

Oh no. The snow! Even the best winters have to come to an end...Hope there is enough for one more climb next weekend....Thanks for the pics

Not only is the ice axe handsome but check out Cy. Amazing hiker and always looking classy.

Post by **Taco** » Mon May 03, 2010 2:00 am

Cy is THE MAN!

Glamisking... go to the high desert, then look south.

simonov · Post by **simonov** » Mon May 03, 2010 6:55 am

norma r wrote:The handsomest ice axe i have ever seen belongs to Cy Kaicener.

Heart breaker!

EManBevHills · Post by **EManBevHills** » Mon May 03, 2010 10:27 am

I admit it again. I covet Mitch's ax. No offense, Cy!

norma r · Post by **norma r** » Mon May 03, 2010 10:48 am

simonov wrote: Heart breaker!

no axe envy Mitch!

i remember your axe as being very handsome too!

MarkI · Post by **MarkI** » Mon May 03, 2010 11:23 am

Wow, who knew wooden axes could unleash such feelings? And all I have is a dumb old aluminum one...but hey, termites won't eat it, it won't catch on fire, and I won't get any splinters in my fingers...

Dave G · Post by **Dave G** » Mon May 03, 2010 9:17 pm

Nice photos, Mark. The old bowl just keeps getting browner every day

.
I really got spoiled this winter, plus saved a lot of money in gas not having to drive to the Sierra as much

!

EManBevHills · Post by **EManBevHills** » Mon May 03, 2010 9:50 pm

It's the same thing with a canoe paddle. Nothing like a wooden one.
Plastic is still, well, plastic! How LA!

Cy Kaicener · Post by **Cy Kaicener** » Fri May 07, 2010 8:31 am

Thanks for posting the picture Norma. I WISH i was as young and sturdy as my ice axe again