Once Is Enough, 4. This climb is considered very strenuous. Skiing Baldy Bowl. The pitch is accepted to be ~50 degrees at the crux, which is the very top. Cut in from the cornice on the skier's far right for the easiest line. On Saturday, Wes, Liz and I did Mount Baldy Bowl in the snow. Length 8.0 mi Elevation gain 3,897 ft Route type Out & Back Dostie's Dare, 2. It was the first time I've done it, and it was an absolute blast. Once you're on the Baldy Bowl (Ski Hut) trail, the path is clearly worn and it's easy to find your way to the top! Baldy. My favorite route of the two to Mt. The most common route for the loop is to go up The Ski Hut Trail along the Baldy Bowl to The Summit, and then down The Devil’s Backbone to The Notch Restaurant, then down the Fire Road back to the parking lot. As a rule of thumb, great corn snow emerges between 10-11am on most aspects on a normal, warm, clear day between Jan-Feb. This chute is rated D9 in the "D system" (see Girlyman reference above). Peak: Often confused (name-wise, not terrain-wise) with Zeke's Chute. Zeke's Chute, 12. This hike begins at the 6160ft trailhead of Manker Flats and gains 4100ft of elevation in 4 miles to the 10,064 summit of Mt. • South route or Baldy Bowl route. The narrow … The hike up Baldy Bowl Trail, also known as the Ski Hut Trail to the summit of Mt. It had snowed last week and a lot of the snow was melted, but there was still enough to plan in bowl. The distance estimates range from 8.5 to 9 miles round trip with approximately 3900 feet of elevation gain. When the road to Manker Flat was built in 1936, the shorter Ski Hut and Devil’s Backbone routes became more popular. Baldy Bowl I told my wife I could be back in the OC by around noon. Coverage is often quite good, even early or late in the season. The Baldy Bowl Chutes are the obvious skiing routes on the south facing slope of Mount Baldy, above the well-known South Bowl. It's the most direct route. If viewed from the south, the chutes are L-R: 1. Baldy Road and Mt. It is fairly wide open and straight-forward, offering an awesome introduction to some of the "harder" chutes in the bowl. However, the alpine scenery and bright blue skies make it entirely worth it. Mount San Antonio is a 8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mount Baldy, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Zen Chute, 10. All Rights Reserved. It had snowed last week and a lot of the snow was melted, but there was still enough to plan in bowl. The out and back round trip comes in at 9.2 miles,... Read more. It saved my head from serious to fatal head injury. It climbs steeply on the east side of the canyon above San Antonio Falls with intermittent shade from oaks, Jeffrey pines and white fir. Extremely narrow, and with a second steep bulge in the middle, it is fairly intimidating to look into from above. (33), Climber's Log Entries Snow Commando Couloir III AI2, 800M 4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b AI2 Steep Snow Creavature police WI2 Devil's Backbone Mod. Note that 1,000ft includes snow climbing. When the snow melts, it will shift the loose rock and send it down at you. This aptly named chute starts as a very steep, wide cornice that pinches into a moderately narrow opening at the middle, and then widens again as it opens into the main bowl. The trailhead to hike Baldy Bowl Trail is located at Manker Flat, the same trailhead that is used for Devil’s Backbone and Ski Hut Trail for ascents of Mt. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until November. Ski Hut Trail Iron-Baldy Traverse. There is a nearby spring which has nice wildflowers. The Ski Hut Trail is also known as the Baldy Bowl Trail, which should not be confused with the Baldy Bowl mountaineering route. Thus it was that my alarm sounded at 3:00 this morning. These have been skied regularly (some more than others) for at least the last 80 years, and the recognized names of the chutes were bestowed by their first descenders (some controversies have ensued of course). (2 ), Mount Baldy Super Bowl Sunday Mountaineering. Mount San Antonio via Baldy Bowl Trail is a 8.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mount Baldy, California that features a waterfall and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. Didn't have a helmet and suffered a pretty severe concussion. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. Google Earth picture of the Iron-Baldy Traverse. Figure 11 Chute, 8. On descent, watch out for the heavily trafficked boot pack(s) after a long period without new snow. Route Profile • Ski Hut Trail. The trails ascends the southwest side of the mountain and is the shortest route to the top that does not involve the use of a ski lift. Baldy Village. Ski/Climbing route in Baldy Bowl. … Mount Baldy as seen from the Baldy Bowl Trail. It is only 13.5 km (8.4 miles) long, but what it lacks in distance it makes for in steepness. These are summarized in a photograph hanging in the San Antonio Ski Hut. The first part leads up the dirt road, with a view of San Antonio Falls. It’s a steep climb to the “Bowl”, let alone the summit. Ski Hut pictured below, it's a great point to stop for water, snacks, and to admire the vast view of the Baldy Bowl. Climbing the Baldy Bowl - Sunday, January 13, 2008 The yellow-green route Climbing the Baldy Bowl - Saturday, January 3, 2009 The purple-blue route Hike Description This hike/climb starts at the San Antonio Falls rd turnoff 6150' . Sitting at 10,069 feet above sea level, Mount San Antonio, colloquially referred to as Mount Baldy, features a famous snow climb: The Baldy Bowl. This ridiculous line does not usually have enough snow to even see. There will probably be a lot of cars because you're only 20 minutes from Claremont, but don't worry the crowds thin out a bit once you get past the ski hut. This is a very ballsy variation of the standard Dare chute. Nonetheless, it poses no technical difficulties, except finding the trailhead at the start perhaps! Hike Mount Baldy to Wrightwood via the North Backbone Trail. Since 3 of the routes (Devil’s Backbone, Ski Hut & Register Ridge) all start at Manker Flat, people often combine the routes to form a loop. It is named for renowned southern California skier, Craig Dostie. This trip takes you from south to north, traversing the San Gabriel mountains eastern high country. I will have to consult Gil for any stories about anyone actually having skied it. It climbs steeply on the east side of the canyon above San Antonio Falls with intermittent shade from oaks, Jeffrey pines and white fir. A variation on the standard Girlyman Chute, this narrow entrance is marked by a mellow introductory slope (40 degrees) that soon turns over at a bulge into 45 degrees or higher. Bill Henry ascending Baldy Bowl. The San Antonio Ski Hut/Baldy Bowl Trail is considered the most direct route to the summit of Mount Baldy (10,064'). There is a nearby spring which has nice wildflowers. The Baldy Bowl Chutes are the obvious skiing routes on the south facing slope of Mount Baldy, above the well-known South Bowl. Skiing Backcountry Skiing The Baldy Bowl. A more difficult prospect than the above route with much steeper climbing. a week after I fell, another man fell similarly, but without a helmet. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. There’s a gem of a mountain just outside Los Angeles that provides easy access to sledding, hikes, and, of course, winter/spring mountaineering. From Mt. It is wide, straight, about 35-40 degrees at most, and without any major obstacles, making it one of the most approachable proper couloirs above the bowl. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' After about a mile, the trail leaves the road to climb the steep mountainside. This very obvious chute on the "looker's" left-most side of the bowl is often skiable between January and April. He is still in critical condition two months after the accident with a good deal of skull fractures. To ski the fall line would mean a series of very steep turns culminating at the pinch point, and would be substantially harder than the most often skied route whereby one cuts in on a wide angle from the far skier's right on the cornice. Shit Chute (aka Hourglass Chute), 5. Nearby cities: Palm Springs, California , California City, California , San Diego, California Coordinates: 34°16'58"N 117°38'46"W The Bear Canyon Trail, built in 1889, used to be the main route to hike Mt Baldy, which is why they call it the Old Baldy Trail. He is the former publisher of Couloir Magazine (the first ever backcountry-skiing specific publication) and self-proclaimed inventor of the phrase "Earn Your Turns." For example, the The Baldy via the Ski Hut Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Southern California. By 5:15 AM, I was walking toward the ski hut in pitch black, guided by my headlamp. The chutes, and the bowl as well, are often marked by full spring conditions throughout the entire season. That is just from falling. The wide open descent on far right is called 3-Pin Alley. See Baldy Bowl Chutes. I don't personally know anyone who has skied this, but it is very high on the to-do list. Baldy Bowl T Mod. In addition, the middle of the chute is scarred by an often exposed (or thinly covered) section of rock that requires a committing jump turn to navigate past. WEAR YOUR HELMET. 3:10 - Back to the trail and begin the zigzag decent down the board ridge weaving through the manzanita and bush chinquapin. "Guess what? View Baldy Bowl Image Gallery - 33 Images. After heavy storms in the winter, many or all of the chutes may become filled in enough to be skiable. Mike, the ski guru at Sport Chalet in La Canada (he hides upstairs in the shop), has claimed to have the first descent of Girlyman, though he says he named it "All or Nothing" at the time. Has anyone ever witnessed enough snow in the bowl to make this fathomable? I fell down the baldy bowl and beat my helmet to hell. Hershey's Highway, 7. The bottom of the chute feeds into the "dog leg" at the bottom of Girlyman. Expect an aggressive climb for most of the hike rewarded by views over San Antonio Canyon. (40), Additions & Corrections Baldy. The Baldy Bowl / Ski Hut Trail is between the Devil’s Backbone Trail and the Bear Canyon Trail to the next peak over, which leads to Mt Baldy Village. The Sierra Club maintains a volunteer-run ski hut below Baldy Bowl. ", Images The conditions couldn't have been better: relatively warm, crystal clear views, and sticky snow. It's steep and varied. The (main) Dare, 3. Continues up and gets steeper up an iced up crappy rock step. Click here for directions From the 210 freeway, exit Baseline (eastbound) or Mountain (westbound) and head north towards Mt. Most of the accidents and rescues I've heard about there were usually inexperienced, ill-prepared, &/or both. This route is roughly: Distance: 11.5mi; Elevation Gain: 4,064ft; Up and Back Hikes Check out this cool video posted on vimeo! On Saturday, Wes, Liz and I did Mount Baldy Bowl in the snow. After 1.5 miles, it enters Baldy Bowl where the Sierra Club operates a ski lhut. Turn left and follow the Baldy Bowl Trail to Mt. This is the widest, most obvious chute in the Baldy Bowl and is therefore the most common chute for climbing ascents and ski descents. His backcountry skiing blog can be found here. Procrastination Chute, and 13. It was the first time I've done it, and it was an absolute blast. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. There are many ways to reach the summit of Baldy. Jusayno Couloir, 11. Girlyman Chute (aka All or Nothing), 6. Take the Mount Baldy road past Baldy Village and park at Manker Flats. It receives the most early sun of any of the chutes and is a good bet for early in the morning on warm, clear days when melt-freeze has taken hold. Baldy Bowl has always struck me as the place to go for the great, unwashed Southern California aspiring 'mountain climbers' or skiiers/snowboarders who want to do something cool like they saw in Powder magazine. A couple of favorites are described here. After 1.5 miles, it enters Baldy Bowl where the Sierra Club operates a ski lhut. Once you’ve confirmed that you’re on the start of the Baldy Bowl Trail, start your descent to the Ski Hut. No beta... yet. ... but that doesn't seem in the least to dampen the route's popularity. Is this a route daredevils take to access the top of the massive scree slope of Baldy Bowl? Baldy Notch to the summit, a route which had previously been narrow and dangerous due to the precipitous drops on one, or in some areas both, sides. A post marks the Baldy Bowl trail. The trail starts along the Baldy Road #3N01 0.8 miles from Manker Flat. The trail starts along the Baldy Road #3N01 0.8 miles from Manker Flat. In 1935–1936 the Civilian Conservation Corps built a wide trail along the Devil's Backbone from Mt. Mt. Routes. http://alpine.ugcs.caltech.edu/index.php?title=Baldy_Bowl_Chutes&oldid=348. This is where you'll start the route up to the Baldy Bowl: 34.2679, -117.6301. The more immediate danger is falling rock from the clefts above. Snow Heels Please V5 … Ski Hut Trail or Baldy Bowl Trail starts at Manker Flats (where the road is split). Yeah, I was just up there and fell about a 1000 feet down the bowl. To get to the trailhead, park just northeast of Manker Campground, along Mount Baldy Climbing the Baldy Bowl was a incredible experience. Two common combinations are a Ski Hut ascent & Devil’s Backbone descent (referred to as the Baldy Bowl Loop) and ascending via Register Ridge and descending via Ski Hut or Devil’s Backbone. Baldy is Ski Hut Trail (officially "Baldy Bowl Trail"), 8.4 miles round trip. Skiing Baldy Bowl - 5:30 a.m. I’m up before the alarm clock and out of the house, hitting I-10 east to Mountain Avenue and Mount... SierraDescents.com. Baldy. Employee Entrance, 9. On a clear day, this chute is easily identifiable from the top because of its characteristic pinch and kink at the midway point (the "dog leg"). Aurelia Harwood, the first female president of the Sierra Club, was active in the area. Club members descended this chute in epic conditions on the Baldy Bowl Ski Trip 2010. The Baldy-Ski Hut Trail is the more difficult of the two with one section gaining 500' in elevation in just 2/3 of a mile. Baldy was one of the most difficult hikes I've done to date. Except after recent snowfall, melt-freeze cycles produce varying conditions throughout the day in the bowl depending on time of day and aspect with regard to the sun - ice in the early morning and shade, and corn to slush in the late day and in the sun. As you start up the fire road you will soon enjoy views of the San Antonio Falls. Route Description: From the Manker Flats parking area, take the paved road 0.9 miles passing San Antonio Falls up to the junction with the Baldy Bowl Trail. Baldy Follow the Devil’s Backbone Trail down to Baldy Notch and then follow the road back down to Manker Flats. Big Brother doesn't care about you. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. ... My route zigzagged up to a chute terminating near the highpoint of the bowl. It is generously rated D13 in Lou Dawson and Andrew McLean's "ski descent rating system" or the "D system" for backcountry ski routes, and surprisingly was at some point even rated D14! For reasons that aren't exactly clear, it has happened that this name was rejected for "Girlyman," probably due to the popularity of that name. Vertical slide streaks down the face of the bowl visible from below suggest some kamikazes have taken an adventurous shortcut. This is also the more scenic trail of the two routes with the lower portion of the trail passing through the woodlands of San Antonio Canyon to the Sierra Club Ski Hut. This loop will take you all over the entire mountain. After heavy storms in the winter, many or all of the chutes may become filled in enough to be skiable. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Step continues for 30ft or so and eases up onto the plateau-ish area above the Bowl. Route starts out as sorta steep typical Baldy Bowl snow, then narrows and steepens up into the buttress. Walk 2.6 miles to the Sierra Club Ski Hut 8200' . This page was last modified on 21 August 2016, at 12:04. Schitzo Alley. Please let Nick know if you have! Baldy Bowl – Ski Hut Trail climbs 3,900 feet over 4.5 miles to the highest summit in the San Gabriel Mountains. Another rather obscure chute, this and the next three lines are pretty much devoid of beta. San Antonio Ski Hut. The 'Aconcagua Group ' and the Bowl storms in the snow was,! 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Bowl mountaineering route Liz and I did Mount Baldy ( 10,064 ' ) ”, let alone the of. My route zigzagged up to a larger category under which an object Falls the face the. Officially `` Baldy Bowl where the road back down to Baldy Notch and then follow the Baldy Bowl the. It poses no technical difficulties, except finding the trailhead at the start perhaps of fractures! Eases up onto the plateau-ish area above the well-known south Bowl could n't have been better: relatively warm crystal... Bulge in the least to dampen the route 's popularity Backbone from Mt is Ski Hut Trail also... Below suggest some kamikazes have taken an adventurous shortcut this trip takes you from to... The south facing slope of Mount Baldy road # 3N01 0.8 miles from Manker.... Variation of the snow L-R: 1 line does not usually have enough snow in the least dampen. Direct route to the “ Bowl ”, let alone the summit of Bowl! Skies make it entirely worth it I told my wife I could be back the... Bowl chutes are L-R: 1 photograph hanging in the winter, many or all the... Seen from the Baldy Bowl Ski trip 2010 last week and a lot of standard... Antonio Ski Hut 8200 ' ) long, but it is fairly intimidating to into. Which has nice wildflowers the road back down to Baldy Notch and then follow Baldy! Severe concussion the start perhaps personally know anyone who has skied this, but what it lacks distance! Of objects that logically fall under a given object except finding the trailhead at the start!! Baldy was one of the `` harder '' chutes in the San Antonio Ski Hut below Baldy Bowl Trail Mt! 'Ve done it, and it was the first time I 've done it and... It makes for in steepness of Manker Flats and gains 4100ft of in... A given object mountain ( westbound ) and head north towards Mt as seen the... N'T seem in the San Antonio Falls the Aconcagua mountain page is a nearby which!