Mt Baldy today...

[rivermobster]

Perfect weather. Food was really good! Great way to spend an afternoon with the kids.

 

[ChumpChange]

Looks fantastic.

 

[Dan Lorenze]

Thanks for the invite

 

[Sharp Shooter]

How did the village look?

 

[Motoxxxloak]

My kids go to baldy (school), and have for years. We always go to the lodge to eat. You’re telling me there’s a place at the top of the lift to eat? Lmao I never knew that.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Is that lift powered by a 318?! Never been up the lift, just the parking lot. Looks beautiful though, glad it made it.

 

[Sharp Shooter]

My kids go to baldy (school), and have for years. We always go to the lodge to eat. You’re telling me there’s a place at the top of the lift to eat? Lmao I never knew that.

It's a party scene up there sometimes. They also have moonlight hikes. Been going on for decades.

https://www.mtbaldyresort.com/moonlight-hikes

 

[rivermobster]

My kids go to baldy (school), and have for years. We always go to the lodge to eat. You’re telling me there’s a place at the top of the lift to eat? Lmao I never knew that.

https://www.baldynotch.com/#most-popular

I had the blue cheese burger. Pretty tasty!

How did the village look?

Fantastic. But the fire damage was right across the street!!!

They were also still doing water drops up there on Saturday. With the hot weather coming up next week, I sure hope nothing else flares back up.

 

[rivermobster]

Is that lift powered by a 318?! Never been up the lift, just the parking lot. Looks beautiful though, glad it made it.

Naw, but I sure did do a double take when I saw that thing there!!!

 

[rivermobster]

Thanks for the invite

Last minute thing with the kids.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Naw, but I sure did do a double take when I saw that thing there!!!

For many years, Disneyland had what looked to be a 1200 VW for their gondolas. I asked once, and yes, it was kept in top running shape, should it be needed during a power outage.

 

[rivermobster]

For many years, Disneyland had what looked to be a 1200 VW for their gondolas. I asked once, and yes, it was kept in top running shape, should it be needed during a power outage.

Here is a cropped image for your viewing pleasure.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Here is a cropped image for your viewing pleasure.

View attachment 1434535

Frame it, and title it "Mopars in the Wild"

 

[whiteworks]

Been my playground since I was a kid. Gotta pick your battles with that mountain as it will chew you up and spit you out. Scored a primo baldy day on April 15th last season, dumped a fresh foot and then cleared out, the mountain was staffed and operational, chairs were running and there were only about 30 people up there as it was a Monday. As right as that place can be, it can also go real bad if you get caught slippin. Every year the Instagram crowd will show up and get fucked up or killed up there. I’d wager to say that by April 16th the run this video was shot on had started to melt off and then froze over that night and was a sheet of white death the next morning LOL

 

[DaveH]

i dunno but that chair lift looks like its straight out of 1955. is that the chair used by skiers? wow.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Yup make sure your edges are sharp if your skiing Baldy.

 

[coolchange]

The Notch is fun. Have gone on Saturday night for the band and dinner.

 

[rivermobster]

i dunno but that chair lift looks like its straight out of 1955. is that the chair used by skiers? wow.

1952 to be exact. They definitely do look sketchy!

 

[coolchange]

It's a party scene up there sometimes. They also have moonlight hikes. Been going on for decades.

https://www.mtbaldyresort.com/moonlight-hikes

They do that with a band on, I think one Saturday a month in season.

 

[90 Laveycraft]

Here is a cropped image for your viewing pleasure.

View attachment 1434535

Good eye!!

 

[Orange Juice]

Before safety bars were added in the mid 60’s

 

[QC22]

Been my playground since I was a kid. Gotta pick your battles with that mountain as it will chew you up and spit you out. Scored a primo baldy day on April 15th last season, dumped a fresh foot and then cleared out, the mountain was staffed and operational, chairs were running and there were only about 30 people up there as it was a Monday. As right as that place can be, it can also go real bad if you get caught slippin. Every year the Instagram crowd will show up and get fucked up or killed up there. I’d wager to say that by April 16th the run this video was shot on had started to melt off and then froze over that night and was a sheet of white death the next morning LOL

I was a ski patroller at Baldy for a few years. All of this ^^^^^ is 100% truth. I've slid the entire length of Bentley's headfirst on my back, and I've been on scene with two Helivacs, one didn't make it. With all that, Baldy is amazing. You all need to take your kids on the chair to the Notch and poke around. My Stepdad took me when I was 8 and I've been in love with the place ever since.

 

[wzuber]

I was a ski patroller at Baldy for a few years. All of this ^^^^^ is 100% truth. I've slid the entire length of Bentley's headfirst on my back, and I've been on scene with two Helivacs, one didn't make it. With all that, Baldy is amazing. You all need to take your kids on the chair to the Notch and poke around. My Stepdad took me when I was 8 and I've been in love with the place ever since.

when were you on patrol? pro or nat'l? I was on nat'l patrol there in the early 90's, Este, S. marion etc. were our trainers. good times, fun and challenging mt. for sure.

 

[rivermobster]

I was a ski patroller at Baldy for a few years. All of this ^^^^^ is 100% truth. I've slid the entire length of Bentley's headfirst on my back, and I've been on scene with two Helivacs, one didn't make it. With all that, Baldy is amazing. You all need to take your kids on the chair to the Notch and poke around. My Stepdad took me when I was 8 and I've been in love with the place ever since.

They let you hike all over once you are up there. Some of the trails are currently shut because of the fires, but most of the trails are open.

I skiied there a few times when I was younger. You either go the day after it snows, or don't go at all.

I was surprised to see a bunch of snow making equipment laying around at the top!

 

[CLCookie]

I grew up skiing on this Mountain. My grandfather was part owner in the "resort" in the late 1960's. Lots of great memories and still get up once a year to make some turns. The run "Morgans Grove" is named after my grandfather's best friend and partner. Morgan's Grove is named after Morgan Adams, he was a developer in the 1950-60's in LA. My grandfather owned and operated Cummins Diesel in SD and LA at the time and provided a few engines for rope tows and lifts. My grandfather also helped Dave McCoy get Mammoth started. A little history..............

Baldy is by far the toughest Mtn in SoCal

 

[stokerwhore]

I grew up skiing on this Mountain. My grandfather was part owner in the "resort" in the late 1960's. Lots of great memories and still get up once a year to make some turns. The run "Morgans Grove" is named after my grandfather's best friend and partner. Morgan's Grove is named after Morgan Adams, he was a developer in the 1950-60's in LA. My grandfather owned and operated Cummins Diesel in SD and LA at the time and provided a few engines for rope tows and lifts. My grandfather also helped Dave McCoy get Mammoth started. A little history..............

Baldy is by far the toughest Mtn in SoCal

the only so cal mountain with REAL black diamond runs.

 

[crzy2bealive]

I was a ski patroller at Baldy for a few years. All of this ^^^^^ is 100% truth. I've slid the entire length of Bentley's headfirst on my back, and I've been on scene with two Helivacs, one didn't make it. With all that, Baldy is amazing. You all need to take your kids on the chair to the Notch and poke around. My Stepdad took me when I was 8 and I've been in love with the place ever since.

So this is not a beginner ski area?

 

[whiteworks]

So this is not a beginner ski area?

There is literally nothing beginner friendly about Baldy, even the beginner run is off camber long sweeping right hand turn. All the beginners end up off to the low side of the run in a rut LOL

However if you’re an advanced skier/snowboarder and go up with a local on a good day, it will blow your fucking mind how badass this place really is. Over the last 35 years I have scored the best days riding of my life at Baldy when it’s on. It’s a south facing mountain in SoCal, snow melts off quick and freezes solid at night, place will fuck you up when it ices over.

OG shot from 90’s powder day, notch is in the background.

 

[hallett21]

I gotta ski Baldy one day. I’ve heard the stories from the older legends lol.

I’ve heard guys go so far as to compare it to the top of Mammoth or CO mountains. Which I think may be a stretch lol.

 

[QC22]

when were you on patrol? pro or nat'l? I was on nat'l patrol there in the early 90's, Este, S. marion etc. were our trainers. good times, fun and challenging mt. for sure.

Yes, Este and Steve were my guy’s too. I think ‘91 thru ‘93. Would have to dig up some old stuff to nail down precisely. Gabe is an old friend as well. I was a Nattie.

 

[QC22]

I’ve heard guys go so far as to compare it to the top of Mammoth or CO mountains. Which I think may be a stretch lol.

Not a stretch. There’s serious chutes in-bounds. Not a wide open bowl like Mammoth, but there are trees and steeps and chutes and ridges that compare well with world class stuff. Just smaller. Heck, directly under the beginner’s chair is challenging. You have to go!

 

[hallett21]

Not a stretch. There’s serious chutes in-bounds. Not a wide open bowl like Mammoth, but there are trees and steeps and chutes and ridges that compare well with world class stuff. Just smaller. Heck, directly under the beginner’s chair is challenging. You have to go!

What’s the best way to do it? Morning after a storm? Will they open after a big one or do they do avalanche control?

Do they shut down the roads after a decent storm? I’ve got 4x4 and I’ll throw chains on if needed to get there.

Seems like a mountain that you need to ski quickly before it all melts

 

[QC22]

What’s the best way to do it? Morning after a storm? Will they open after a big one or do they do avalanche control?

Do they shut down the roads after a decent storm? I’ve got 4x4 and I’ll throw chains on if needed to get there.

Seems like a mountain that you need to ski quickly before it all melts

No matter what, there’s always ice. Powder days are great and spring is really good too. Thunder Mountain faces the right way, so that part stays decent, but the trees always drop stuff underneath them and it ices up. Can look perfect and be the worst decision ever to go in. They groom and those runs are safe in the morning. Once the sun hits the steeps there’s really good corn snow. You really need to learn the place, but is amazing how much variety is there.

The road in can be a real issue. 4WD plus chains is very common. But again, late spring with a lot of snow is super cool and the road will be fine.

 

[rivermobster]

What’s the best way to do it? Morning after a storm? Will they open after a big one or do they do avalanche control?

Do they shut down the roads after a decent storm? I’ve got 4x4 and I’ll throw chains on if needed to get there.

Seems like a mountain that you need to ski quickly before it all melts

It doesn't melt...

Like Dylan said, it turns to ICE!

The slope is south facing, so once the clouds go away, it melts the top layer and freezes overnight. So your skiing on a big sheet of ice.

Every run (but one) is black diamond, and a lot are double black.

I read more people get hurt at Baldy every year, than all the other ski areas combined.

It's not a beginner park. You have a one or two day window at best for decent skiing.

 

[whiteworks]

I’ll expand on joes statement about ice, what’s really fucked up is when it all freezes over and then dumps on top of it and the bond layer is gone, there are some spots that are amazingly good when it’s deep snow, south bowl is one of them. However what happens to the OC cowboys who show up and being there one buddy who kind of sucks is they will bomb south bowl when it’s OB and closed, Barney in the back will cut across the top behind all his ripper buddies and the whole mountain will break loose, it all funnels into a shoot and that’s where you will find the human otter pops in the spring. There is a lot of area that you can hike that is nothing short of insane and world class, but you better know your mountaineering shit and know when to do it.

The stars have to align just right to score a primo baldy day, it’s not like going to some resort where you’re gonna have a consistent experience.