EISPIRATEN

Our own little "Everest" in So Cal Niceeeeee

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looked pretty bare yesterday!

COME ON SNOW!!!!!!

This was last year on December 5th!!!









GO SNOW GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Towercam needs to wipe the sleep from its eye:

Hiked up to the Ski Hut last night with Phil. The storm on Monday was a bit of a disappointment.

not only does it melt, but some of it drives away...



I love Baldy

Went with Tony to go check conditions in the morning the other day before heading to school...


BP NEF


Tony going up a chute along the North Baldy Route on BP to bypass some bad rock


Looking for ice


Covered in snow



Ice was VERY thick, very good. Some bashing and cleaning required to get to the good stuff. This should all be in condition either in a week or two, or after a REALLY good dump plus some time for avalanches to plow the road and consolidation, freeze thaw etc.

Arright, WTF nature? Don't gimme some "La Nina" excuse.

Taco wrote: ↑Arright, WTF nature? Don't gimme some "La Nina" excuse.

"La Nina" in Spanish means "Mean Girl Who Keeps the Snow and Rain Away, Ruining The Fun of Mountaineers and Canyoneers and Increases Fire Danger Due To Drought Stress on Chaparral. Oh And Also Creates Ideal Conditions for Bark Beetles".

the view from 39 near East Fork River

I know, there must be lots of pissed off mountain snow people out there for right now, so be patient, mother nature is unpredictable, you can have a white blanket cover Baldy soon.
sorry.... Hell is not the only hot place, Baldy is expected to hit 60...... 666

cougarmagic wrote: ↑

Taco wrote: ↑Arright, WTF nature? Don't gimme some "La Nina" excuse.

"La Nina" in Spanish means "Mean Girl Who Keeps the Snow and Rain Away, Ruining The Fun of Mountaineers and Canyoneers and Increases Fire Danger Due To Drought Stress on Chaparral. Oh And Also Creates Ideal Conditions for Bark Beetles".

LOL

Taco wrote: ↑Arright, WTF nature? Don't gimme some "La Nina" excuse.

OK, then its the 'be grateful' response. Los Angeles 113% of normal rain fall.
San Francisco at 65% of normal....Los Angeles has had 4 inches more than San Francisco! Sierra Nevada at 10% of normal snowpack.

"This last map clearly shows the Sierra having very little snow compared to normal with below-normal snowfall from central Idaho to Utah and parts of Colorado. The one anomaly in the Southwest is that the mountains of Arizona are above normal. "

So are we going to be seeing some Arizona trip reports?

Stranded Arizona college student survives 10-day blizzard in car‎
http://www.blottr.com/breaking-news/str ... izzard-car

cougarmagic wrote: ↑"La Nina" in Spanish means "Mean Girl Who Keeps the Snow and Rain Away, Ruining The Fun of Mountaineers and Canyoneers and Increases Fire Danger Due To Drought Stress on Chaparral. Oh And Also Creates Ideal Conditions for Bark Beetles".

Stupid Girl.

Grumble grumble grumble...

This winter sux balls! and I live at 7000ft and its still 60 degrees and the little snow we got out here in AZ in november is all melted n gone ...Winter Fail

Don't worry, I'm sure it'll kick in later.

Love the heat.

Topped out at 89 on Bommer Ridge Sunday. Been riding all week (vacation) and wore one summer layer all day/everyday in Laguna Beach.

No snow in the bowl as of today 02/17/2012 plenty in canyons between hut & skilift melting fast

Thanks Patrick. That's a bummer.

Hi all,

Myself and a friend are thinking of driving up the 2 this weekend. Can anyone tell me where snowline is on north-facing slopes? I know the Waterman ski slopes didn't open this year, but are they free of snow? We probably don't want to break out the snowshoes...

Thanks

Anyone know around what elevation the snow level is at these days? I'm actually trying to avoid it. (I hike in 5 fingers. I've hiked in them in the snow a few times this season and its surprising how cold and wet your feet can get and still be fine, but I'm not in the mood this weekend

It looked like when it snowed last weekend it was down to like 4000 ft and it wasn't all that warm this week. I hiked Echo Mtn this morning but it was totally fogged in so I couldn't tell what it looked like above me and with the Mount Wilson Webcam out of commission I'm flying blind

I'm wondering if I could hit a San Gabriel Peak or something like that and keep my feet dry. I kind of doubt it. Anyone know?

Hi All,

A few years back (summer) I recall driving up to Cobb Estate to get in a late afternoon trail run in. There was a sign out front saying trail closed / fire danger.

Some questions

Do you think this is ahead for the trails/mountains this summer?

Have they ever closed the road to Chantry Flats due to fire danger / red flag?

I have mixed feelings about closing up these areas. Apparently wildfires are healthy for the ecosystem, but it always kills me when they are started by some ignorant person who throws a smoke out on the trail etc.

Thoughts / opinions?

Be safe / smart out there!

Shreddy

They frequently close Chantry Flats on the Fourth of July.

I've seen National Forests completely closed before for fire danger reasons. Not often, but I've seen it.

HJ

We hiked Icehouse Canyon for the first time this year today. It was dry. The creek level was low. The small spring just below the Saddle was dry. It usually has water in May. Mercifully, Columbine Spring is still flowing. Other reports say the Kellys Camp spring has very low flow.

If there are a bunch of fires, then the forest could be closed. Maybe the Monday rain will help a little.

Hello,
Planning a trip from the Devils punchbowl to Vincent Gap via the Burkhart trail via Islip saddle, to Baden Powell and ending at Vincent Gap as stated. My plan is for a three day two night trip.
Anyone know of a good campsite just beyond Burkhart saddle?
Wondering about trail conditions water availability etc.
Thanks in advance
Bill

Here is my best shot at recon...

Heading south from Burkhart Saddle there is nothing that I know of campsite wise until you reach the PCT (where the frog closure area boundary is up near cooper cyn falls). Burkhart Saddle itself is very flat and would be easy place to set up a tent - probably windy though. Within say the first 1/4 to 1/2 mile south of the saddle you might be able to find something off trail flat enough for a tent but I can't recall for sure. If you want to you could climb either Pallett or Will Thrall and camp on top - plenty of places up on either of those peaks. No water anywhere though until you reach the PCT area.

Thanks Hike up. Forgot about the frog closure. My intended route hopefully is outside that boundary. I was hoping to make the 3 days more uniform in distance for my hiking buddies who tend to complain on longer days. Sounds like I would need to bring adequate water up from Burkhart trail (Cruthers creek?) Also is there a path from Burkhart saddle to Mt Williamson along Pleasant view ridge?
I am excited to do this hike, seems like a neat area.
Bill

I did the Burkhart Trail last August from Buckhorn to Will Thrall and Pallett. I think going up to Pallett to camp is perhaps your best option, though I'm not really a camper. Pallett, however, is a long and flat summit with some tree cover on the north side. It's about a 700' climb from Burkhart Saddle.

If I recall correctly, there was an intermittent stream about a mile south of the Saddle, which only had stagnant puddles during my August visit. There wasn't a reliable water source until Little Rock Creek, which is 3.3 miles south.

No water on Pleasant View Ridge.

There is an obvious trail up to Pallett. Beyond that is a slightly tricky bit where you drop down to a saddle on the southeast side and climb up the other side. That's the only section of PVR that I haven't personally done. But I scouted it and it looked fairly straightforward, as long as you're coming from Burkhart. I got lost my first time coming from Williamson and ended up on the ridge to Goodykoontz.

If you take the Burkhart Trail to Buckhorn, you then have to walk some of the highway to Islip Saddle. The PCT is closed. Generally Burkhart is in decent shape, but during my visit last year a few rockslide areas were in poor but passable condition. The trail has little tree cover, but the views of rock formations are really great.

Thanks for the intel Sean. Regarding PCT closure, I plan on:
1. Either following PVR east to Mt Williamson and on to Islip saddle. (Is this a viable option?) or:
2. Following the Burkhart trail to the PCT.
Where is the PCT closure exactly?

Thanks again!

Bill wrote: ↑1. Either following PVR east to Mt Williamson and on to Islip saddle. (Is this a viable option?)

Certainly viable, especially if you camp on Pallett.

Bill wrote: ↑Where is the PCT closure exactly?

PCT is closed from Eagles Roost on the east end and where the Burkhart trail intersects it at Little Rock Creek on the west end.