After the Storm...

Dave G · Post by **Dave G** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:34 pm

I drove up this morning to see if I could get a look at the storm's effect on Baldy and maybe get a hike in as well. At the first road closure I asked the county worker if I'd get arrested or cited if I drove up to Icehouse Canyon. He said probably not, so I went for it. After I drove through the washed-out area below Icehouse, I figured I might as well try my luck with Manker. I was surprised to see that the area near Falls Road where we all park was in much worse shape than IHC. No one I talked to could tell me when the road would reopen, but there's a lot of equipment and workers up there, so hopefully soon.

Back at Icehouse, the first snow patch I saw was at 5400', with excellent continuous snow from 5800' on. I brought crampons, but didn't need them.

Serious Road Closure near Buckhorn Lodge

More signs on the way to Manker

At Big Butch Wash they opened the gate and were bulldozing debris over the side

Mt Baldy Rd/Falls Rd

Down at Icehouse Canyon, the creek is raging

Telegraph South Couloir

Baldy Bowl

Icehouse Saddle

Me at Icehouse Saddle

He219 · Post by **He219** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:50 pm

Schnee!! Yaaaay.
Thanks for the TR, Dave!

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 7:28 pm

Excellent! Thanks for the recon.

lik2hik · Post by **lik2hik** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:10 pm

Way to go Dave! Nice T/R. Looks beautiful up there!

lilbitmo · Post by **lilbitmo** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:11 pm

Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee chasing the first "virgin snow" that's our Dave G.
Great pictures, will try to post some of my own tomorrow night, when I get a chance

hvydrt · Post by **hvydrt** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 11:28 pm

Wow, risking arrest just to bring us the conditions! If you got busted, you could have told them you know the mayor.

norma r · Post by **norma r** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:20 am

sorry to see the damage from the dang Pineapple Express, but grateful to see the coverage once the temps dropped a bit. hoping this is only a base for our winter and the storms continue to roll in regularly now. the IHC creek looks more like the Merced River.

thanks for the photos DG!

Post by **Taco** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 2:06 am

Thanks Dave! That's great!

JEFFSCOF · Post by **JEFFSCOF** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 8:53 am

Thanks for the pics Dave, can't get up there till the New Year so I appreciate your pics from the comfort of my home....Merry Christmas.

Yetidude.

Sam Page · Post by **Sam Page** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 11:43 am

Great report and photos, Dave.

asbufra · Post by **asbufra** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:29 pm

Dave, Thank you for the information.
Since the road was closed we went up Bear Canyon as far as time permitted.
It was wonderful, snow began at the top of the switchbacks and there was total coverage soon after. The snow was firm and dry and easy to walk on. Going up it was like a sidewalk. After it warmed up it was a little softer and wet, but still nice.

It was clear , not a breath of wind, and hot in the sun.

We did use crampons, a good idea on the steeper slopes, and conditions will change tonight if it rains/snows.

Christmas Eve was just a beautiful day.

mve · Post by **mve** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 6:04 pm

Dave, Frank thank you for the great reports on the latest conditions!

JEFFSCOF · Post by **JEFFSCOF** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 10:02 am

Thanks for the pics for those of us who can't get away. Simply beautiful.

yeti

lilbitmo · Post by **lilbitmo** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:25 pm

Great pictures Frank-had a great time Friday with Tracie, Frank, Ryan and Ty - perfect way to start the holiday weekend - fun in the sun, with some snow to go, hope to get back on the trail attack

simonov · Post by **simonov** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 7:26 am

Ingrid and I went up Bear Canyon yesterday. I'll put a few photos up tomorrow. We learned we really need to get earlier starts (she has difficulty with that) and also I am hopelessly out of shape and need to do some training before our snow travel clinic on 8 January.

We had never been up the Bear Canyon trail before. It is really lovely down in the canyon and, while a lot less lovely above Bear Flat, very pretty in the snow. Surely the best time of year to do this trail.

rbracci · Post by **rbracci** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:33 am

Yes, great time on Friday guys! Even though it was a short day with a few blisters and all it was a great time.

Here are my pics: http://ryanbracci.smugmug.com/Hiking/20 ... t-Mt-Baldy

TracieB · Post by **TracieB** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 7:24 pm

It was a beautiful day, blisters and all! My photos are up

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29308219@N ... 688175642/ 8)

norma r · Post by **norma r** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:17 pm

fun, fun, fun! gotta' get me some. beautiful pix of the rime and San G Tracie.

lilbitmo · Post by **lilbitmo** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 11:14 pm

Tracie - way to capture the day with those pictures - absolutely wonderful thanks for sharing them

rbracci · Post by **rbracci** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:30 am

Yes, nice pictures, Tracie! Thanks for posting. I totally wish we could have spent more time up there...