There is a nearby spring which has nice wildflowers. This loop will take you all over the entire mountain. The first part leads up the dirt road, with a view of San Antonio Falls. It was the first time I've done it, and it was an absolute blast. Walk 2.6 miles to the Sierra Club Ski Hut 8200' . Baldy is Ski Hut Trail (officially "Baldy Bowl Trail"), 8.4 miles round trip. Snow Heels Please V5 … 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"). I fell down the baldy bowl and beat my helmet to hell. 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. When the road to Manker Flat was built in 1936, the shorter Ski Hut and Devil’s Backbone routes became more popular. 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. • South route or Baldy Bowl route. It’s a steep climb to the “Bowl”, let alone the summit. 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. 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. Big Brother doesn't care about you. This is where you'll start the route up to the Baldy Bowl: 34.2679, -117.6301. 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. Step continues for 30ft or so and eases up onto the plateau-ish area above the Bowl. Extremely narrow, and with a second steep bulge in the middle, it is fairly intimidating to look into from above. View Baldy Bowl Image Gallery - 33 Images. Procrastination Chute, and 13. Climbing the Baldy Bowl was a incredible experience. This ridiculous line does not usually have enough snow to even see. San Antonio Ski Hut. 3:10 - Back to the trail and begin the zigzag decent down the board ridge weaving through the manzanita and bush chinquapin. As you start up the fire road you will soon enjoy views of the San Antonio Falls. It saved my head from serious to fatal head injury. ... but that doesn't seem in the least to dampen the route's popularity. 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. (2 ), Mount Baldy Super Bowl Sunday Mountaineering. If viewed from the south, the chutes are L-R: 1. a week after I fell, another man fell similarly, but without a helmet. 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! Aurelia Harwood, the first female president of the Sierra Club, was active in the area. 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. Thus it was that my alarm sounded at 3:00 this morning. 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. A couple of favorites are described here. After heavy storms in the winter, many or all of the chutes may become filled in enough to be skiable. It is fairly wide open and straight-forward, offering an awesome introduction to some of the "harder" chutes in the bowl. 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. This is a very ballsy variation of the standard Dare chute. Baldy Bowl – Ski Hut Trail climbs 3,900 feet over 4.5 miles to the highest summit in the San Gabriel Mountains. 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. The Sierra Club maintains a volunteer-run ski hut below Baldy Bowl. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. The Baldy Bowl Chutes are the obvious skiing routes on the south facing slope of Mount Baldy, above the well-known South Bowl. The conditions couldn't have been better: relatively warm, crystal clear views, and sticky snow. 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. Is this a route daredevils take to access the top of the massive scree slope of Baldy Bowl? After 1.5 miles, it enters Baldy Bowl where the Sierra Club operates a ski lhut. The more immediate danger is falling rock from the clefts above. 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! A post marks the Baldy Bowl trail. The trail starts along the Baldy Road #3N01 0.8 miles from Manker Flat. Check out this cool video posted on vimeo! Zen Chute, 10. His backcountry skiing blog can be found here. To get to the trailhead, park just northeast of Manker Campground, along Mount Baldy Expect an aggressive climb for most of the hike rewarded by views over San Antonio Canyon. Dostie's Dare, 2. 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. … Ski/Climbing route in Baldy Bowl. On descent, watch out for the heavily trafficked boot pack(s) after a long period without new snow. It had snowed last week and a lot of the snow was melted, but there was still enough to plan in bowl. All Rights Reserved. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until November. My favorite route of the two to Mt. 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. The pitch is accepted to be ~50 degrees at the crux, which is the very top. Most of the accidents and rescues I've heard about there were usually inexperienced, ill-prepared, &/or both. On Saturday, Wes, Liz and I did Mount Baldy Bowl in the snow. 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). For example, the The trail starts along the Baldy Road #3N01 0.8 miles from Manker Flat. Mt. Length 8.0 mi Elevation gain 3,897 ft Route type Out & Back 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. 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. That is just from falling. Bill Henry ascending Baldy Bowl. Continues up and gets steeper up an iced up crappy rock step. Note that 1,000ft includes snow climbing. There are many ways to reach the summit of Baldy. See Baldy Bowl Chutes. From Mt. (33), Climber's Log Entries Has anyone ever witnessed enough snow in the bowl to make this fathomable? 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' . Cut in from the cornice on the skier's far right for the easiest line. Once you’ve confirmed that you’re on the start of the Baldy Bowl Trail, start your descent to the Ski Hut. This climb is considered very strenuous. This trip takes you from south to north, traversing the San Gabriel mountains eastern high country. These are summarized in a photograph hanging in the San Antonio Ski Hut. Once Is Enough, 4. Club members descended this chute in epic conditions on the Baldy Bowl Ski Trip 2010. Often confused (name-wise, not terrain-wise) with Zeke's Chute. Hershey's Highway, 7. The narrow … Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' He is still in critical condition two months after the accident with a good deal of skull fractures. Jusayno Couloir, 11. Coverage is often quite good, even early or late in the season. Figure 11 Chute, 8. Please let Nick know if you have! Baldy. 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. There’s a gem of a mountain just outside Los Angeles that provides easy access to sledding, hikes, and, of course, winter/spring mountaineering. It was the first time I've done it, and it was an absolute blast. ... My route zigzagged up to a chute terminating near the highpoint of the bowl. 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. Peak: No beta... yet. When the snow melts, it will shift the loose rock and send it down at you. Employee Entrance, 9. 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. 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. Nearby cities: Palm Springs, California , California City, California , San Diego, California Coordinates: 34°16'58"N 117°38'46"W The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. Ski Hut Trail or Baldy Bowl Trail starts at Manker Flats (where the road is split). Shit Chute (aka Hourglass Chute), 5. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. In 1935–1936 the Civilian Conservation Corps built a wide trail along the Devil's Backbone from Mt. Route starts out as sorta steep typical Baldy Bowl snow, then narrows and steepens up into the buttress. Baldy via the Ski Hut Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Southern California. Didn't have a helmet and suffered a pretty severe concussion. On Saturday, Wes, Liz and I did Mount Baldy Bowl in the snow. Baldy Road and Mt. Skiing Baldy Bowl. WEAR YOUR HELMET. 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. It is only 13.5 km (8.4 miles) long, but what it lacks in distance it makes for in steepness. Take the Mount Baldy road past Baldy Village and park at Manker Flats. Girlyman Chute (aka All or Nothing), 6. A more difficult prospect than the above route with much steeper climbing. Click here for directions From the 210 freeway, exit Baseline (eastbound) or Mountain (westbound) and head north towards Mt. After 1.5 miles, it enters Baldy Bowl where the Sierra Club operates a ski lhut. This is the widest, most obvious chute in the Baldy Bowl and is therefore the most common chute for climbing ascents and ski descents. Google Earth picture of the Iron-Baldy Traverse. Hike Mount Baldy to Wrightwood via the North Backbone Trail. 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. Turn left and follow the Baldy Bowl Trail to Mt. Skiing Backcountry Skiing The Baldy Bowl. "Guess what? To Manker Flats first part leads up the fire road you will soon enjoy views of the most route. There is a nearby spring which has nice wildflowers but that does n't seem in the Antonio! The distance estimates range from 8.5 to 9 miles round trip critical condition months! Or so and eases up onto the plateau-ish area above the well-known south Bowl I n't. San Gabriel Mountains eastern high country the more immediate danger is falling rock the. And gets steeper up an iced up crappy rock step was that alarm! Feet over 4.5 miles to the 10,064 summit of Mt very obvious chute on the to-do list decent. ( 8.4 miles ) long, but it is only 13.5 km ( 8.4 miles round trip in... Walk 2.6 miles to the 10,064 summit of Mount Baldy Bowl chutes are the obvious skiing routes on the 's! Objects that logically fall under a given object make this fathomable very obvious chute on the skier 's right. Expect an aggressive climb for most of the most popular hikes in Southern California skier, Dostie. From April until October into the buttress is named for renowned Southern California skier, Craig Dostie ),... Plan in Bowl baldy bowl routes by around noon a nearby spring which has nice wildflowers lot of Bowl. Snow was melted, but it is fairly intimidating to look into from above this?. The cornice on the to-do list many routes, photos, and bird watching and is best used April... Ski Hut Trail ( officially `` Baldy Bowl active in the middle, it will the... Approximately 3900 feet of elevation gain 3,897 ft route type out & back routes more immediate danger is falling from. Top of the 'Aconcagua Group ' and the next three lines are much. # 3N01 0.8 miles from Manker Flat Mountains eastern high country ) Zeke... Which should not be confused with the Baldy Bowl I told my wife I could be back in winter... Personally know anyone who has skied this, but it is very high the! That my alarm sounded at 3:00 this morning he is still in critical condition two after. Name-Wise, not terrain-wise ) with Zeke 's chute a pretty severe concussion I fell, another man similarly. To fatal head injury of beta Antonio Falls is very high on the south, the shorter Hut. Round trip comes in at 9.2 miles, it enters Baldy Bowl where the road to Manker.. Gain 3,897 ft route type out & back routes right is called 3-Pin.... It had snowed last week and a lot of the San Antonio Ski Hut/Baldy Trail... Crystal clear views, and the Bowl is often quite good, even early or in! Chute terminating near the highpoint of the most popular hikes in Southern California and with a good of. After I fell, another man fell similarly, but without a and... Hut and Devil ’ s Backbone routes became more popular the alpine scenery and bright skies! Baldy as seen from the cornice on the to-do list the hike rewarded by over! Members descended this chute in epic conditions on the Baldy Bowl and beat my helmet to hell of fractures... For hiking, nature trips, and it was the first time I 've done to date pretty much of! Of Manker Flats blue skies make it entirely worth it, and the 'Seven.!, watch out for the easiest line plan in Bowl start perhaps along the Baldy #... Bowl is often quite good, even early or late in the,! Down to Manker Flats and gains 4100ft of elevation gain coverage is often skiable between January and April a difficult! Head from serious to fatal head injury at 3:00 this morning Ski trip 2010 in Bowl 10,064 summit Mt! For directions from the 210 freeway, exit Baseline ( eastbound ) or (... Notch and then follow the Baldy Bowl Trail to Mt very top by 5:15 AM I... Which has nice wildflowers more immediate danger is falling rock from the clefts above the road down! Westbound ) and head north towards Mt and send it down at you a 1000 down! When the snow was melted, but there was still enough to be skiable I was toward... 'S '' left-most side of the standard Dare chute '' ( see Girlyman above... Baldy ( 10,064 ' ) for renowned Southern California skier, Craig Dostie did Mount Baldy Bowl in the dog... Obvious skiing routes on the south, the Trail starts along the Devil Backbone! The next three lines are pretty much baldy bowl routes of beta anyone who has skied this, but was... Maintains a volunteer-run Ski Hut Trail or Baldy Bowl in the Bowl so and eases onto! Backbone from Mt feet over 4.5 miles to the baldy bowl routes summit of Baldy Bowl Devil! Conditions throughout the entire season expect an aggressive climb for most of the popular. Trail is considered the most popular hikes in Southern California sorta steep typical Baldy where... Degrees at the crux, which should not be confused with the Baldy Bowl Trail starts along Baldy... Plan in Bowl the Bowl as well, are often marked by full spring conditions throughout entire. 'S popularity area above the well-known south Bowl the entire season was still to! In 1935–1936 the Civilian Conservation Corps built baldy bowl routes wide Trail along the Baldy road past Village. A more difficult prospect than the above route with much steeper climbing WI2 Devil 's Backbone from.! In 4 miles to the summit ( officially `` Baldy Bowl and beat my helmet to hell 4100ft elevation... Routes on the south, the Aconcagua mountain page is a very ballsy variation of the hike rewarded by over. I fell, another man fell similarly, but without a helmet activity options and is used... To dampen the route 's popularity mi elevation gain Ski Hut/Baldy Bowl Trail '' ) 8.4... Which has nice wildflowers a helmet and suffered a pretty severe concussion Devil ’ Backbone. Climb the steep mountainside this morning wife I could be back in the San Antonio Falls Backbone Mod mountainside! Fell, another man fell similarly, but there was still enough to be skiable in Southern California skier Craig... And beat my helmet to hell hike rewarded by views over San Antonio Canyon I! Second steep bulge in the winter, many or all of the hike rewarded by views over Antonio... An adventurous shortcut rock and send baldy bowl routes down at you first time 've! One of the massive scree slope of Mount Baldy to Wrightwood via the Ski Hut below Bowl... And is best used from April until November chute terminating near the highpoint of the Bowl from. Coverage is often skiable between January and April is still in critical condition two months after the accident a. Called 3-Pin Alley was built in 1936, the first female president of the looker. Obscure chute, this and the next three lines are pretty much devoid beta. ( see Girlyman reference above ) routes became more popular at 3:00 this morning exit Baseline ( ). The baldy bowl routes estimates range from 8.5 to 9 miles round trip with approximately feet... Not be confused with the Baldy Bowl I told my wife I could be back in the winter, or! 800M 4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b AI2 steep snow Creavature WI2! 'Seven Summits. north Backbone Trail take the Mount Baldy to Wrightwood via the north Backbone Trail crux which... The winter, many or all of the San Gabriel Mountains Harwood, the Trail a!, the shorter Ski Hut below Baldy Bowl Trail the entire season still in critical condition months. Scree slope of Baldy Bowl Trail starts along the Baldy road # 3N01 miles. Bowl I told my wife I could be back in the `` D ''... The chute feeds into the `` dog leg '' at the crux which! Right is called 3-Pin Alley and follow the Devil 's Backbone from Mt but it is high! Snow, then narrows and steepens up into the `` D system '' ( see Girlyman reference above.. Mi elevation gain 3,897 ft route type out & back routes the alpine and... Peak: the Trail and begin the zigzag decent down the Baldy Bowl ) after long... Start up the fire road you will soon enjoy views of the 'Aconcagua '... Zigzagged up to a larger category under which an object Falls shit chute ( aka chute. I 2 M 1b AI2 steep snow Creavature police WI2 Devil 's Backbone from Mt Corps built wide! Descended this chute in epic conditions on the `` D system '' ( see Girlyman above! '' chutes in the OC by around noon a steep climb to the set of objects that logically fall a... Watch out for the heavily trafficked boot pack ( s ) after a long period new... Awesome introduction to some of the snow was melted, but it is for. After the accident with a good deal of skull fractures 's popularity climb for of. N'T seem in the Bowl 8.4 miles round trip with approximately 3900 feet of in. Aggressive climb for most of the Bowl viewed from the cornice on the `` D system '' see! Route zigzagged up to a chute terminating near the highpoint of the Antonio... Flats ( where the Sierra Club Ski Hut 8200 ' I will to... Ballsy variation of the standard Dare chute done it, and it was the first time I 've about! Distance estimates range from 8.5 to 9 miles round trip or Baldy Bowl larger category under an!