TR: Mt. Baldy December 9, 2018 snow

[CAMERONM]

I need to get some altitude and snow, so I head for Mt. Baldy 10,064' (Mt. San Antonio). I guess correctly that enough people have already matted down the trail, but the spikes are helpful in spots, and the poles definitely would have been better with baskets. The snow depth at the top is in the range of 16"-18". All this only 75 minutes from my home in West Los Angeles.

[rightstar76]

Like those ridge pictures (#2 and #3). Pray we get more snow.

[Harlen]

Really nice to see the snow! I've been looking at the same snow from a great distance while visiting the folks in Laguna. I'm glad you got up there Cameron; did you by any chance have the luck to meet the local guy that frequently hikes to the summit with a 12 pack of Newcastle Ale?

You photos are fantastic!

[CAMERONM]

did you by any chance have the luck to meet the local guy that frequently hikes to the summit with a 12 pack of Newcastle Ale?

I believe that he took the day off.

[overheadx2]

Did you go up through Bear canyon/ bear flats? if so, how was that trail with all of the recent rain?

[CAMERONM]

Sorry, I decided to do something different and went up Manker on the lift to Baldy Notch, but I imagine Bear has plenty of snow and that you would not see wet ground.

[overheadx2]

Ok, I saw that ridge and didn't recognize the backbone so i assumed it was the west ridge. how was the back bone, icy, sketchy?

[CAMERONM]

Backbone was fine. All of the snow was still powdery, little ice around, well tamped-down trail. I am not sure why, but a lot of people are apprehensive about the Backbone. It's just a ridge, perhaps a bit more exposed, and probably windy at times.

[overheadx2]

Due to the wind, it gets very icy and really sketchy. Glad you found such good conditions.