EISPIRATEN

Hi all. I am trying to prepare to hike the Grand Canyon at the end of May.

I'm going to go up Mt. Baldy from the Visitor Center. If I can find a partner, we'll cut over and bag the three T's while we're up there, coming down Icehouse Canyon (or Chapman). And driving back to visitor center.

Let me know.

Here is a photo of Cucamonga Peak on May 2. It looks like it will have snow/ice for quite a while. If you click on the picture and go to original size you can see the trail in the lower right moving towards the center of the picture. This part of the trail (through the rockfall area) is visible and perhaps passable without snow tools, but once the trail reaches the north side it disappears. The snow up there is two or three feet deep. The long traverse to just get to Cucamonga Saddle is snow covered and no trail to follow with several dangerous chutes to cross.
Be careful if you choose to hike this peak in May.
Ontario Peak is not much different. Good luck with Grand Canyon

Thanks for the head's up! I was afraid that might be the case...

I guess I'll look into Mt. Wilson too...

What would be some long, drier hikes that anyone might recommend?

I'm not opposed to buying ice gear, but I'm not sure how much winter hiking will prepare me for the Grand Canyon.

how hard do you want? I think 2 ones that would help would be

1) Old Mt Wilson trail to Mt Wilson, ~ 15 miles 4700 ft gain

2) Iron Mt, 15 miles, 7200 ft elevation gain

Baldy from Baldy Village (~ 13 miles, 5800 ft gain) would be a great one but depends on the snow coverage on the upper parts. At least that hike is south facing and gets more sun than parts of Cucamonga & Ontario

Ze, how fast did you get up Iron? 2:36?

yeah

Thanks, Zé. Those sound perfect. I'll bag all 3 in the weeks to come.

What's the name of the trail to Baldy that you are speaking of?
EDIT: The first one on his list, right? http://www.yelp.com/biz/old-baldy-mount ... 0AtdPrRv5A The trail isn't named?

Cheers!

(If anyone would like to join me, let me know.)

ha, that's my list i think.

that's a good trail, but not the one I'm talking about. I'm talking about this one

actually on that trip we hiked up the long way, and down the short way and hitchhiked down. normally you would just go up and down the long way.

Right on! Thanks for the link. I can make a map from that.

BTW, I was talking about the guy who said that one way up Baldy is "1. From the Baldy visitor center (6.5 miles one-way, 5800 feet of elevation gain)." which matched up with your mileage and elevation gain approximates.

I think I'll try this one in 2 weeks and bring ice cleats and poles? (I'll call the visitor center first.)

Thanks again for your help!