Interesting

This trip was interesting for me becuase I had been up three weeks earlier in a heavy storm with massive slides and poor visibility. Now I got to go up and see what devistation was left since I couldn't see it the day it happened due to white out conditions. I was also staying at the hut so it gave me time to enjoy the trip. I didn't hit the trail head until after 1:00 PM. Before I got too far up the trail I looked across the valley to the area just outside the limits of the Mt. Baldy ski area. It slides year round and you could see some major sliding had been happening.

Further up the trail I got this awesome view of the bowl. Blue skies and tons of snow. I could hardly wait to get up there. Everything was perfect. I have not seen this much snow on Baldy Ever.

I finally got to the spot where the big slide had happened a few weeks back. After seeing the avalanche happen and now seeing what it left in it's path I have a whole new appreciation for how powerfull they are. 50 year old pine trees were ground up and spit out in pieces.

Below is an interesting site for Southern California, a snow bridge. Underneath was a 2 or 3 foot gap and a stream. Typically the snow doesn't fall fast enough or deep enough to cover the stream that completely.

Not much happened at night. I had one visitor, Bernie. Thanks for the IPA. Hopefully we can hook up and climb sometime. There were also two guys that came up late and setup a tent at the bottom of the bowl. Bernies buddy came up about 4-5 AM and they headed for the summit. I got moving shortly after them and headed up the East ridge. Beta from skiers on Saturday told me the West ridge and bowl were really layered. The avalanche pit confirmed it. I was alone and didn't want to chance the avalanche. Besides, the East ridge has longer runs and is rarely ski-able. These are some nice shots just as the sun was coming up.

This is a pic from about 1/2 way up the East side. It was pretty icy in the morning and really windy too.

I continued toward the summit and stopped under the last tree I could find to get some cover from the wind. I don't have boots I can hike and ski in which really sucks. I basically have to have two pair of boots with me - ski boots and hiking boots. When I want to ski I have to sit down and change boots. This can really suck when it is windy and cold like it was on this day. It's all worth it though. I got in a really good run. I stopped back at the hut to warm my feet and pack up. Chaz and Eric, the same two guys from about the same time last year, came wondering in. I thought that was pretty funny. I chatted with them a bit, ate my lunch, and closed up the hut. A lot of work for one run, but unless you have ever done it you wouldn't understand that it is totally worth it. Sorry there are no pics of me skiing. It's hard to take pictures when I am hurdling down the mountain.

 

On my way out I managed to get some nice pics of the bowl and San Antonio falls, which was really roaring.