This will sound like rookie questions to the SoCal folks here!
I've never climbed Baldy - For those who have climbed it, probably a large percentage of everyone here (!),
1. how is access in December (typically) and are there issues on the road to get to the trailhead?
2. I've never actually been to the area and read mixed reports online. Is this one of those trailheads that's accessible in a 2wd rental car even if its snowing higher up or does the road access close as does Whitney Portal Road? Or is this typical Socal weather and could be stormy one day and 70*F the next?
3. Is Manker Flats the "standard trailhead"? Is this the side with the "Devils backbone" Assume I should bring traction for this?
4. Is an "Adventure pass" or Parking Permit required here also?
1. You should be able get up their the day of or the day after. The roads are plowed. Be prepared or a lot of traffic on the way back down the hill...lot'sa snow play folks on the weekend after a snow.
2. See above for answer.
3. Manker gets you to Bowl, DB and Register Ridge Trails. Baldy is a south face with northern aspects sprinkled in. I always carry Microspikes once it snows and avoid Baldy on the weekends once it snows. If you don't know conditions, carry ice axe crampons and a helmet. The Bowl spits rocks all day.
The DB killed two people last year, one with Microspikes and poles, one with nada. I would not go between Harwood and the Notch on a bet but that's me.
4. Yes to the Adventure Pass. The courts have brought it back again.
Quick correction to Bill's post: an Adventure Pass is not required to park at the Manker Flats trailhead. It's not listed as one of the "Standard Amenity Recreation Fee" sites in the settlement agreement in the Fragosa case where an Adventure Pass would be required. Also, it's specifically identified as a "non-fee" site on the Angeles Forest Recreation Fee map (where it's called the "Baldy Bowl Trailhead"):
This will sound like rookie questions to the SoCal folks here!
I've never climbed Baldy - For those who have climbed it, probably a large percentage of everyone here (!),
1. how is access in December (typically) and are there issues on the road to get to the trailhead? Over the last 6 years we've barely had any snow. What does fall rarely sticks long enough to make trouble on the roads, but it can affect the trail higher up. See Bill's comments RE last year's tragic SG fatalaties.
2. I've never actually been to the area and read mixed reports online. Is this one of those trailheads that's accessible in a 2wd rental car even if its snowing higher up or does the road access close as does Whitney Portal Road? Or is this typical Socal weather and could be stormy one day and 70*F the next? You'll have no trouble with the roads if you're hitting Manker Flats. The road has some tight turns but I've never had problems in my Corolla. Ah, yes the weather can jump back and forth, but the storms are fewer and far between.
3. Is Manker Flats the "standard trailhead"? Is this the side with the "Devils backbone" Assume I should bring traction for this? Depends on the snowpack. You can have almost no snow on Baldy at different points of the month. RN I'd brink micros, if we get another storm maybe 'pons and an axe. If you really want to ensure success just go for crampons.
4. Is an "Adventure pass" or Parking Permit required here also? Personally, I have no idea. I don't bring them and I haven't been ticketed in years. I usually hit Baldy monthly. The times that I did get a ticket, the ticket asked for me to send the $5 I would've spend on the Pass, lest I be fined $100.
Thanks in advance!
@jjoshuagregory (Instagram) for mainly landscape and mountain pics
Actually, the port-a-potties do qualify as trailhead amentities. At least, what I have been told by someone who should know. Normally, roadside parking would not qualify for a pass.
Go to the trailhead and park. If you get ticketed, pay the $5. Chances are in the the winter no will up there write tickets. I am forgetful and half the time my pass does not go on the car at Ice House and I am rarely ticketed.
Ice House is very crowded after a storm. Manker Flats is a good choice. There is a storm Thurs and Fri and conditions should be ripe for climbing the bowl from the ski hut. Im headed up if anyone is interested. Pons and axe required on this one.
I'll add a couple of things - the Manker Flats trailhead is on the left-hand side of the road. Just below the trailhead the road splits, and there's a island (lots of trees in the island) between the uphill and downhill lanes. I've always found it easier to go slightly past the trailhead itself where the island ends, make a U-turn, and park headed downhill. You can park on either side of the road. The TH itself isn't terribly obvious, but usually there's a portapotty there. And it can get VERY busy on weekends, so getting there early (6-7AM) is a good idea.
Early start is key for Baldy, year round. I usually get up there about an hour before sunrise when I hike to beat the crowds. I usually take an alternate route up to the top and don't see another person until I hit the backbone trail.
Last time I went up I almost got blown off the summit off Harwood and decided to take the backbone trail down to the notch. Once off the top the wind wasnt as bad, but it reinforced how much I dislike the section from the notch back down to Manker.
Going to break out the spiky bits of kit and give it a shot early this Saturday morning for giggles.
Well, it looks like the forecast has changed and what was supposed to be 10-18" of new accumulation on Baldy has now been reduced to a couple of inches since the expected snow level has risen. It's also supposed to be quite windy with sustained winds in the 25-30 mph range with gusts as high as 45 mph. Looks like I'll be skipping Baldy, sticking close to home and getting in a trail run early one day this weekend.
It was a bit windy that morning. I had to lean into it to stay stable. I was trying to make it to the summit of Baldy for sunrise that day, but the wind slowed me down. Ended up topping out on Harwood and bailed on Baldy since I was just up there the weekend before.
That is the windward side of the mountain. I have been in the divide area when the winds clocked at over 100 MPH. One the Ski Hut Side no one had problems reaching the summit.
