Mt. Whitney, Eastern Sierra and SoCal Hiking

Hiking Rule #1...Don't End Up on the 11 PM News

2012-01-26T08:29:00.000-08:00

Saturday a meetup group with 10 hikers and 7 others got stuck when they returned to the tram at 4 PM and found a sign...Go see Ranger. The ranger said the tram had been closed due high winds and everyone was gonzo. The National Weather Service call for 70 MPH gust for the area, a forecaster, whose work product is on the Palm Spring Ariel Tramway's website, called for 100 MPH winds. Judging meetup group's pictures, I can say without a doubt I have been out in lot worst in the Mt. San Jacinto State Wilderness Park. The folks in the group looked prepared for the worst that they would see.

The pertinent question here what is the for profit Palm Springs Aerial Tramway's responsibility to these hikers. On Saturday, they punted. They placed the safety of these folks in our hands and we punted, or should I say the sworn wilderness ranger left behind punted. The PSAT closed the tram because of safety concerns...I ain't got a bit of problem with that. However, they closed Mountain Station and put the safety of these folks in the hands of a park ranger, who volunteered to stay behind. However, the ranger would not allow 17 folks in the heated ranger station because he there were weapons inside. I don't know of any law enforcement facility that does not have a place to secure weapons; therefore, I do not buy this line of reasoning. These folks were forced to spend the night in a mule barn, although according the hikers they were provided with a couple of blankets and sleeping bags.

Thank God, these folks came prepared and that the temperatures were relatively mild...near freezing.

Winter is not a 3-season hike only colder. If you get stuck out at overnight for any reason you need to be prepared with clothing that will get you through the night at highest elevation you are traveling to. In this case, 10,834' and mid-twenties. Now for you Whitney noobs who are saying this does not apply to me, I have stood on Mt. Whitney at dawn twice where the temperature was below 10* F, once in August and once in September...think again.

Who Needs No Stinking Plan A

2012-01-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a day of damn, I forgot...the chains, to turn off my GPS when d/l stuff into the computer and the camera memory card. Therefore, we could not make it to our original trailhead safely, have my GPS to track the route or a camera to take pictures on one of the most beautiful days I have spent climbing Mt. Baden-Powell. BTW, only two of the forgot were mine...my hiking partner made the best decision, he forgot the chains.

We got made to about 7,600' on Angeles Crest Hwy. before we decided it was in our best interest to turn around. We had two reasons, we did not want slip and slide from Dawson Saddle to Islip Saddle and with the forecast calling for lower temperatures during the day, we did not want to slip and slide towards Vincent Gulch on the way back. The question was where to we go for our winter hiking fix...Baldy with 300 peeps...NO THANK YOU! The only real choice was the ho-hum Mt. Baden-Powell, ho-hum because we did it two weeks before and it was not really challenging...solid crusted snow, zero wind, clear skies. Yesterday was different...rain, 20-MPH winds with gusts to 60, mixed snow conditions and winter wonderland on the the summit ridge. Thank God, for the mistake that took away from our trail walk to Mts. Williamson and Goodkoontz.

Conditions were such that we made it to the summit ridge with 2 pounds on steel on our feet. The trail snow was soft enough to get purchase the ice could be avoided until we reached 7,600' where we decided the trail was of no stinking use. Then it was postholing, kick stepping, French stepping avoiding ice until just below the ridge where we added a layer and fangs for the ridge walk to the peak. I have never seen this ridge prettier than it was yesterday.

What allowed us to make this drastic of a change is coming prepared. If we had done, Williamson and Goodykoontz, we most likely would not have take the crampons and axe but I thought it prudent have them with us...just in case. When you head up to Lone Pine to do Mt. Whitney, it is wise to bring extra this and that so you have choices.

Preparation

2012-01-15T08:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the temperatures remained relative cool in the mountains versus the forecast...this was a good thing. There was just enough of an off shore breeze to enable those on peaks of SoCal to see ships in Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and both Catalina and San Clemente Islands. A simply marvelous day.

The snow is going away slowly but surely. As I thought, Cucamonga Peak is a walk up these days...as long as you have a set of Microspikes and a pair of trekking poles. This was the first time I have been to this peak in January as a walk-up. Just because this peak is trail accessible does not mean all in this class are...read the Roger and Me post. There are places in these mountains where storms funnel and dump an inordinate amount of snow...Mt. Baden-Powell is one of those places.

On our way back from Cucamonga Peak yesterday, we ran into the usual ill prepared for the task at hand. Just because there is no snow on the south face of the mountains doesn't mean there isn't any on the north side. Most continue until they realize getting back is going to be really, really dangerous.

Lastly, I have come to love going down the Lytle Creek Drainage from Cucamonga Peak. Yesterday, we got see where most of most of spots we postholed to a month ago. This is still ice axe terrain and I wish there was some ice and snow on the traverse over to Cucamonga Saddle, that would have made the trip easier and safer.

Roger and Me

2012-01-07T19:18:00.000-08:00

If it is a winter Saturday, it's 7 AM , and you are heading up North Baldy...Mt. Baden-Powell, you are likely to run into my friends Roger and Daniel as they make there way to the summit. The usual distance is 1.25-miles but with Mother Nature's petulant child La Nina hanging around the route up is closer to 4-miles, the last 800' on so off-trail. If you are interested in learning the ins and outs of this very fun mountain you should make a point in going up there and introducing yourself to these folks, you will richer for the experience.

Today taught me a lesson I should have learned long ago, North Baldy is a snow magnet. I figured with the heat and the crowds the trail would have been forced to the summit, it was not, and I wasn't prepared for it. The crampons and ice axe were hanging out in the trunk at the trailhead, my partner and I decided Microspikes and poles would be ok for this trip. With that said, we could have forced the trail ourselves on the way up or down, if we felt the least bit of pucker...it was not necessary because there were steps kicked in the 400' to the ridge...thanks to Roger and Daniel.

On the way down, we saw folks coming up with trailrunners on and another couple who went just a tad too far without traction devices. They wrapped to webbing around their boots to aid in their descent from 8,000' or so.We decided it was in our best interest to put on the Microspikes at ~7,000' because we were already slipping and sliding and worn them until we returned to 6,700'.

Just because it is warm and there is no snow on the south faces of our local mountains does mean there is no snow on the north side of these mountains. If you heading in that direction in the coming weeks, go prepared.

For those planning a June through mid-July trip up the Main Mt. Whitney Trail the current conditions on Mt. Baden-Powell are similar to what you will encounter to the trail...not including the Trail Camp to Trail Crest chute climb. You would be wise to do it here for the first time rather than there.

How to Spend the Christmas Money...Clothing for Winter

2012-01-04T18:30:00.000-08:00

Well, Santa was very good because you have enough money for the new shiny gear and some threads.

What follows will be for things used primarily in the winter but some things can go up the trail during the other 3 season.

Softshell This and That...This stuff has winter written all over it. It's tuff and water repellent...which means it handles snow really well but rain not so well. It has to be one heck of a horrible day for my friends and I to where any hard shells. Softshell is so comfortable and effective that the hard shells, if they are packed at all stay deep in the pack. If you are new to this medium, I would start with a pair of pants made from Schoeller Dynamic or Dryskin fabric. This is old softshell technology but it works best for our climate. I, also, own a pair Lowe Alpine Stormweave fabric pants. I do not think there are going hold up as well has the Schoeller's. I've never paid more than about $80 for a pair of these pants but most have a MSRP in the $150 range.

Here's where it starts getting expensive, a Polartec Power Shield Hoody or equal. It took me a long while to figure this one out but I would not go out in the winter without this jacket. I've worn this with a vest into teens and in some very high winter winds. This jacket is money. You can find something in the $250 range for house brands or at the internet discounters; however, if you want an Arc'Tyrex Gamma MX it is closer to $400.

I own gloves made with this material. Again, they hold up really well to snow but not rain. They are a bit harder to find. What I own is about 8 years old and no long in production.

Feathers...A light 800 to 900 fill power down jacket that can be compressed to the size of the a one liter bottle. My friends own a variety of the latest and greatest "puffies" from Mont Bell, The North Face and Patagonia. My wife and I own older Feathered Friends and Mountain Hardware Jackets, respectively. These jackets work down into the mid-20s during stops. These are great for 3 season backpacking and long summer day hikes to 14,505'. You should be able pick one of these up for less than $200.

A few of us own heavier down parkas, which go out once to twice a winter when thing really get nasty. The only reason I own this this thing is I do some snow camping.

Balaclava...I've owned 3 or 4 but the one that works best is made out of Polartec Power Stretch. It is light enough to wear in near freezing winds. They really keep the cold wind from coming done your very damp back. I end up wearing his thing about 3 or 4 times a winter. Figure on spending $20 to 30 for this one.

All this comes down to how often you intend to go out in the winter. If it's just a few time, make do with what you have. If this is going to be something you are going to do winter after winter, figure out what you are going to use the most and start there, for me it was the feathers.

The Clothes Make the Man...and Woman

2011-12-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

Today was my getting over a cold day in the mountains...an exercise trip. I was glad it was a bit colder in the morning than it was suppose to be, I hate hiking when it warm. By the time I reached Timber Mountain, it was downright warm but I was dress for it. I had my travel shirt and convertible pants on, not normal winter duds. By the time I was back to the saddle the sleeves were rolled up and the pant legs were off...and I was still too warm.

On the way down, I ran into a bunch of folks with there finest feathers on fully zipped, three layers of this and that with no intentions of layering down. I am always amazed when I see these folks, it's like I made my decision on clothes and I ain't changing even at the gates of hell.

You need effective clothing when you hike in the winter and if you are day hiking Mt. Whitney. If your clothing is soaked from perspiration, especially feathers. They ain't going work if you get stuck out...and I saw more than a few down jackets under shells today. Winter and a Mt. Whitney day hike are fashion shows. If start up the MMWT at 2 AM when it's 45* F, with fleece on it does make any sense at to keep it on when it 65 at 9 AM.

How To Spend That Christmas Money...The Winter Edition

2011-12-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

So Santa was good to you and you want to expand your hiking prospects by one season, well, here's one person's idea of how to get on the winter trails....

Microspikes...You have to crawl before you walk. This will along with trekking poles will get up and down moderately sloped trails. I have come down from Ice House Saddle snow and ice hard pack at 3 MPH. I carry them even when I have crampons. These will not get up a steep ridge to a summit, they just don't have enough bite. At ~$60 these are a great investment.

Snowshoes and High Gaiters...You have to walk before you run. This will get you off the trails exploring and get you places like Mt. San Jacinto in half the distance. There are many choices here and you will have to anticipate how deeply you want to get into winter. If your plan is to stay on the trails most any snowshoe will do. However, if you are going to play on the steeps you will want something serrated side rails, snowshoes offered by MSR.

The general rule of thumb for snowshoe sizing is 1 square inch of shoe for each pound of body and pack weight. This is mitigated in California by wet, heavy snows...Sierra Cement. Most people I go out with carry 8" x 22" to 9" x 25" shoes, some utilize 30" shoes for backpacking. Figure to spend between $100 to $280 for a pair quality snowshoes.

Basic snow skills course...You have to go to drivers ed. before you get keys to the castle. Many bypass these courses and go directly to Baldy Bowl. If you do, you are asking for trouble. My friends and I have taught people how to use these tools but we start them out really slow...trails and lower angle forested slopes. However, it is best to bite the bullet and spend a day with a guiding service. This will cost about $125 for a day on the slopes. Buy a copy of Freedom of the Hills prior to taking this course.

Ice Axe...This is the most important winter tool. When I see people going up steep angle slopes with trekking poles, I will usually ask, how will arrest stop if you fall? The usual answer is I do not fall. Which is funny because I arrest or belay a fall almost every trip. Do not skimp with lightweight alloys or aluminum, if you are going to use this thing in winter. If you are buying as baby blanket for spring trips where it most likely will never see snow buy the lighter product. This will set you back about $100.

Crampons...Minimum 10 points and steel. Aluminum is ok for occasional use but if you in it for the long haul, furget 'bout aluminum. My friends own crampons a variety of manufacturers Grivel, Black Diamond and Charlet Moser. They all work. Find the ones you like the best and plunk down your $175 or thereabouts.

Day Pack...Most of my serious winter friends have more than one. One of about 30 L and another around 40. These pack have to be comfortable because it is not unusual to have 25 to 30 pounds for a day hike in the winter. The biggest problem is finding one that will handle snowshoes, I've modified both 40 L packs I've owned to handle snowshoes. This will set you back about $100 to 150.

Sit Pad...A lot of time the only place to sit is on snow. Therefore, it is your best interest to plunk down a few dollars for a closed cell foam pad or few dollars more for a self inflater. All you need is one that will accommodate your ample or skinny rear end.

This is a lot of coin and I still haven't mentioned clothing and a larger pack for all this stuff. Remember, Rome was not built in a day and neither will be your gear cache. It took me around to 5 years to get all my winter stuff together...just in time to replace the stuff I needed with the stuff I really wanted.

Not All Meetups Are Created Equal

2011-12-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

Over the last week or so I have been involved in a dust up with an Event Host at a large Meetup group. It started with me making an innocuous comment on one of his hikes and went down hill from there.

I have been hiking/climbing/snowshoeing during the winter months seriously for about 13 years and organizing winter meetup for the last 3 winters. I know how to organize winter trips. The first rule in winter organizing is keep the group small, no more than 6 to 8 people. The first screen I use is gear, as an example...Do you have snowshoes? Experience with snowshoes for trail use irrelevant...you go from beginner to expert in about 5 minutes. About the only time it is relevant is on high angle and traverses but I'd use other screens. Then I will screen for clothing...Do you have enough warm and dry clothing to spend the night at the highest point we are going to? If you get sick or hurt it can take a few days for SAR to show up, especially if the wind is at a howl or if blizzard conditions exist. Finally, I screen for skills...Do you know how to self belay or arrest? We can't teach you these skills on the fly; however, most of the folks I go out with will help you improve your skills during an outing. Safety is #1, period. I will not post a winter hike until I have had a look at the long term forecast, this a week or less to the event. There are just too many variables in the winter. Lastly, if you are going out in the winter, you have to think for yourself and not go along to get along. If something is beyond your skill level say so. If your group chooses to continue, you should have the wherewithal to turn around and get back to the trailhead. If you feel you would be putting yourself at risk doing so, open your mouth. Winter hiking, if anything, is a collaborative.

Unfortunately, many do not screen for trips into the snow at high elevation believing winter is summer only colder. I have seen signups for a many as 24 people with no call traction devices, clothing, etc. just show up in your favorite trailrunners, Levis and cotton t-shirt. In fact, I seen an event scheduled to a trailhead where the access road was closed for the winter.

When I sign up for a Meetup I look at a couple of things. I want to know something about the event host, does he have experience in organizing and skills required for that trip. Next, I want to know about the people who are going...are they a bunch of class 1 trailwalkers signed up for a class 3 climb. Finally, group size, most national forests limit group size to 15, I personally limit my participation to smaller groups...a dozen or less. Any of these flags will cause me to cancel my participation, safety is the my #1 priority, not reaching the summit of a peak I have wanted to do for years.

This coming summer when you are looking for like minded people to train with for Mt. Whitney keep all this in mind. Meetup groups are a great alternative to the Sierra Club but no one qualifies the organizers. In the middle of the summer, Mt. Whitney is usually just a trail walk. However, it goes 3,000' higher than many have ever hiked. People who have no problems with AMS in our local mountains can have problems there. It's good a good idea to train with people who have safety as there #1 priority and are knowledgeable of your local mountains and the Eastern Sierra.

Plans

2011-12-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

Plans are great until reality sets in. Our plans for Saturday were to the trail back to Cucamonga Saddle continue on the trail to the start of the ridge climb to Cucamonga Peak at the second switchback then back the way we came. That was not to be.

I figured things were going to change when an inch of rain fell at my house in about 20 minutes on Thursday, this means a foot of snow on Cucamonga Peak, our destination and it was likely that no one will have forced the trail out to Cucamonga Saddle. I was right on the latter, the wind moved the snow that fell to it's normal collection areas...the drainages.

We made it out about 4-miles on the trail when it was decided it was in our best interest to eschew the trail and head up Bighorn's east ridge and do Bighorn while we are up there...hoping that many someones will force the trail out to Cucamonga Saddle and save us from climbing up the south ridge upon our return.

We descended to the south ridge to Cucamonga Saddle and attempted to reach the normal start up point but we took the wrong line after the first switchback and ended up climbing straight up to Cucamonga's northwest ridge...the trail crosses this ridge most of the way up. We reached the summit at 1:30 about 6 1/2-hours to go around 5.5-miles...such is winter.

Rather than come back the way we came we took the South Fork of Lytle Creek drainage down to the Cucamonga Saddle level and did a short traverse to the saddle, where we discover more than few folks got to the saddle during the day.

When we reached Ice House Saddle we removed the crampons, put the axes away and put the Microspikes back on for the trailwalk back to the cars.

For you Whitney and hiking noobs, be flexible with your plans there are always Plan Bs available, especially if the right things in your pack and make things you put on your pack's harness are secure or it can get very expensive.

The Tale of Two Meetup Groups

2011-12-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

Last week, I saw a posting in a Meetup group I belong to going to a place I have been to recently. Reading the description there was no mention of traction devices being needed. I posted making a suggestion that something should be carried, nothing more. The first response I got was, why should I there ain't any snow. I answered the post as flippantly as it was posted. I was told by the hike's organizer to keep my "opinion" to myself. Hmmm...I did not realize an observable fact is now considered opinion. I told the organizer in the future I would only post facts on hikes I was a participant.

This week I got an email announcing at trip to Mt. San Gorgonio from another Meetup group that I am a member, a trip I had zero interest in. I posted a conditions report based on our weekend's adventure. The organizer emailed me asking for greater detail about trail conditions and snow consistency. We went back and forth a few times until he felt he knew what he was getting himself into.

As a Meetup organizer who posts winter hikes and climbs, I limit my hikes to 6 or 8 people who have the skills and gear so my safety is not jepordized. The posting in the first example has 24 sign ups at last glance. Since I done this trip many times and knowledgeable of current conditions , I would require basic snow skills, snowshoes, crampons, ice axe for participants and recommend trekking poles and Microspikes be carried. This organizer suggests these things might be needed and where they can be rented. Hmmm...I wonder where those skills can be rented.

Oh, I forgot to mention, according to CalTrans the road is closed to trailhead for the winter.

It's Not the Miles, It's the Kind of Miles

2011-12-11T09:28:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago a friend, it's not the miles, it's the kind of miles you do that get into mountain shape. Yesterday, was exhibit #1 of that truism.

On a normal summer day, I can do a round trip of Cucamonga Peak in less than 6 hours. I like doing this peak because few people summit it and most go to the peak rather than its best spot for lunch and views...I, also, 1,200' gain to the summit in the last mile. This is a great mid-training hike for Mt. Whitney. Yesterday, we did 12 miles in a little under 12 hours...the last 6 miles at about 3 MPH.

The plan was to hike out to South Fork Meadows from the South Fork Trailhead in the San Gorgonio Wilderness than snowshoe out to the cut up to a northeast ridge of Charlton Peak where we would ditch the snowshoes, throw on the crampons, pull out the axes and head up the last 1,600' in .9 mile to the summit. Wrong! The snow had zero cohesion; therefore, it was snowshoes to the summit.

The going was extremely slow and arduous, since every step included a half step back. It took around two hours to do that short distance.

We all decided it would be too dangerous to return the way we came, so headed down the mostly snow free south slope of Charlton to the San Bernardino Peak Divide Trail and headed for Dollar Lake Saddle hoping that some group had cut trail to the saddle, no such luck, just a single set of tracks back and forth. Eventually, we ran into broken trail and finally compressed snow where we switched to Microspikes for the trailwalk to the trailhead.

If you are getting ready for Mt. Whitney in 2012 you might be saying to yourself I don't plan to play in the snow on my way to the summit, how does this apply to me? Well, much of this applies to you. Many of you will play in our local mountains getting your 6,000' of gain to 10,064' or 11,501'...it ain't 14,505' that's for sure. It's the kind of 6,000' gain or the kind of elevation you are getting to. And then there are your best laid plans, we had a plan the plan changed due to circumstances, Whitney plans change, too...mine have more than once. Lastly, we had the right gear, clothing and food to do this trip safely...even after the changes.

Winter is a Fashion Show

2011-12-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

Over the last three weekend it has been real windy, gale force windy and hurricane force windy coupled with cold, no so cold and somewhat cold. Each trip involved multiple stops to change clothes...making winter a fashion show.

Winter is about having what you need when you need it and making the right choices. During winter I will rarely take a Windstopper hat because I find them to be too warm for hiking. Last weekend was the exception. Just prior to reaching the Devils Backbone, I put on a Power Stretch Balaclava and Windstopper Peruvian hat...the "Dork Hat". Two layers on my nogin' was just about right for the l00 MPH wind. I wish I could say the same for my glove choice. I had been wearing a heavy wool/fleece blend gloves up Register Ridge but decided to go to Windstopper for the trip up Baldy...it was not enough. In a matter of minutes my finger tips were numb. I should have put on my waterproof/breathable Primaloft insulated mitts. Yes, I had 3 choices for gloves and 4 for headwear...5 if you include the hoody of the softshell jacket.

The only pieces of clothing I did not wear that I took this trip were my rain paints, light wool hat, Primaloft mitts and winter down parka. If we would have made it to the summit, the only things that would not have made it out pack would have been the rain paints and light wool hat. The softshell pants I was wearing were sufficiently wind resistant and I would have not have needed the wool hat after exiting big wind areas.

Come next August, if you get caught in the rain at 13,000' descending the 97 Switchbacks and the temperature drops from a comfortable 60* F to near freezing with 30 MPH winds, what will you have in your fanny pack to stay warm and dry? Winter is also a big learning experience for the other seasons.

Wind, Again and Again

2011-12-04T17:50:00.001-08:00

After a week being blown of Cucamonga Peak, my group was turned around at the Baldy/Harwood Divide. I've never turned back on hikes two weeks in a row and have never seen winds like I did yesterday.

We started up the Ski Hut Trail at 7 AM and a mile later hung a right onto Register Ridge. It was breezy but not a total howl. On the way up to Devil Backbone, I changed clothing few times to remain comfortable hiking. Just prior to jumping up onto the Backbone, we all got windproof as possible. For me, that was Power Shield Hoody with Polartec 200 vest, Power Stretch balaclava, Windstopper Peruvian hat, glacier glasses and softshell Windstopper gloves. I had more clothes than I ever remember wearing when ascending in near freezing temperatures...and it was not enough. When we got between the peaks the wind had to be between 85 and 100 mph. Strong enough that I would not have been able to keep my feet without trekking poles.

We all agreed conditions were no longer safe to continue and decided to head down what turned out to be the ridge the Ski Hut reside on but we decided to exit the ridge for a gully. Now, I've down various slopes so this was not new to me but this was the pits. Everything was loose, rock on rock, sand on rock...every step and change of direction had to be thought out. It was the No Fun Zone.

Once we reached the Hut everything was cake.

Reading various postings, it appears Baldy was reachable via the Ski Hut Trail. There were high winds, which is not unusual for Mt. Baldy this time of year but nothing like what was funneling through the divide.

Again, the decision was easy to make. No mountain is worth putting your life at risk to reach its summit. One of my hiking rules is to remain off the pages of Los Angeles Times and 11 PM news. Keep than in mind when the clouds are 40,000' and black when you are standing at Trail Crest this coming summer.

The North Side is Just a Bit Different

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

When I look out my kitchen window I see the bald faces of Cucamonga and Etiwanda Peaks but I know there is a lot snow and ice on the north side of the ridge. Why? Because that's way it is in the winter...and I've hiked through it the last 3 weekends. Only the highest peaks in SoCal hold snow on their south faces. Many look at these mountains from the L.A. Basin and figure they are clear of snow and when they reach the snow they have an Inspector Renault moment...I'm shocked there is snow here!

Over the last few weeks, I have run into a lot of unprepared hikers and have read reports of canceled and truncated hikes...all on the north side. If you are going high on the north and east side of these mountains you should be prepared to deal with compacted snow and ice at minimum. This means having traction device...Microspikes work well, and trekking poles compacted trail ice and snow. However, these minimalist tools will not get up ridges to summits safely.

I have two basic winter rules. One is never go further than you safely descend. Most injuries happen on the way down, not up. If you go too far you are only asking for trouble. I have seen one person on all fours crawling down an icy trail trying to get back to a safe dirt trail. The other is to tell people what is they are walking into when I am returning then just keep walking because I don't want to watch folk get hurt. Last weekend, I told a couple they would need crampons and an ice axe to take the trail to Cucamonga Peak, they had the internet printed trail description, trail runners, jeans and cotton t-shirts on as they approached 60 mph winds and a spindrift obliterated trail.

Knowing When the Day is Over

2011-11-27T09:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had two partners bail on me in the parking lot because of illness, which is no problem because I can do a simple trail hike on a nice sunny warm day to Cucamonga Peak all by myself. And that was exactly what it was for the first 4-miles. At this point it was time to put on the "crapons"...beater crampons used when the approaches are long and points are going to take a beating on exposed rock. However, there were still no problems, just a bit of breeze. However, at Cucamonga Saddle the wind was a howl and it was carrying a lot of spindrift.

The trail to the peak had been broken but the track was all covered up by spindrift. It took me about 15 minutes to reach the Cucamonga's northwest ridge at the corner of the second switchback. I looked down the "trail" and it was totally covered. I figured the safest and quickest route to the summit would be up the ridge...which I have done more than once. I took about 4 or 5 steps up it and figured the conditions were unsafe for me doing this by myself. The wind was at a constant 45 MPH with sustained gusts over 60 and I would be in those winds the next 600'. There just was not enough snow and ice for an ice axe to be effective if I fell. Therefore, I headed back.

By the time I exited the ridge and got back on the "trail" all my tracks were filled in. I broke trail back to the Cucamonga Saddle. The rest was smooth sailing to the parking lot.

This week 3 hikers stayed the night in Mt. Whitney Holiday Inn because they were snowed in, whitedout and later hauled out on Chinook. They made the right decision staying in the hut but somewhere along the line mistakes were made. This coming summer some of you are going to have to make a decision to go forward or go back because of injury, illness or weather do yourself and taxpayers a favor go back, if there is any question in your mind. The mountain will be there latter in the summer and it ain't cool being in the LA Times and people calling you an idiot on various Mt. Whitney message boards.

A Winter Day Pack

2011-11-20T13:07:00.000-08:00

What is a winter pack? In its essence its a life saver. It should have gear for conditions and clothing that allow you survive a night out at highest elevation you are traveling to. Most 3-season hikers look at my "small" winter day pack and say...What hell do you have in there? Yesterday, I had rain gear...20% chance of snow at the elevation I would be traveling, 2-hats...one for light wool hat for hiking and Windstopper Fleece...50 MPH winds were also in the forecast, 3-pair of gloves and mitt shells...snow and wind in the forecast and for the core a softshell hoody, vest and light down jacket. There are days when I wear use every last stitch of clothing I take...or lend some of it to an ill prepared winter newbie partner.

Yesterday, my pack was fairly light...no crampons, snowshoes, ice axe or snow claw. On a very cold mixed gear day, my day backpack will weigh as much as multi-day 3-season backpack.

The Plan

2011-11-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

The plan was to head up Ice House Canyon to the saddle with my friends who were going to do the 3Ts. Once I reached the saddle I was either going to join them to Timber or head over to Ontario Peak as continued my quest for a physical fitness level that would allow me to play in serious snow. I had gear, water and food to support that trip. Funny thing happened on the way to the saddle. We started to yak about the route to Falling Rock Canyon and Ontario Peak. We all decided to cross the creek and go to the start up spot in the canyon. Someone suggested we go up, with a lot of trepidation I agreed. This was an all or nothing trip because what rocks did not have snow cover were wet; therefore, the only return was the trail near Ontario Peak.

This route turns a 6 mile trip to the summit into 3-mile trip...which we turned into something more than that. The trip up was led by someone who did it once in summer conditions...not with snow and limited visibility. Our plan was to head for Sugarloaf Saddle and then Ontario Peak. However, with limited experience this area and visibility but with 3 functioning GPS, we end up on a ridge 1/2 mile northwest of the saddle. So, we did Sugarloaf because it was on the way back to the saddle.

Heading up to Ontario from the saddle the weather turned for the worse. Rain, ice and snow with visibility being 1/4 to 1/2 mile. The ridge deposits you on the Ontario Ridge Trail just east of the peak at about 8,600'. It was about 10 minutes to the peak in about 6" to 8" of snow.

There as one boot track, other than ours to the peak, which was a help on the way back. However, I knew how easy it is to get of track on this ridge when it is covered in snow and visibility is marginal. We stayed pretty much on trail...with a few conferences about where we were and what was our next move. When we cross the last ridge before Bighorn/Ontario Ridge Trail Junction the boot track headed down towards Kelly Camp...where we ran into our first humans of the day...all you need is an off trail route and a bit of nasty weather to have wilderness experience even in one of the most heavily traveled area in the SoCal forests.

Once we started to descend from Ice House Saddle, the snow melted away and it was an easy walk back to the car...interrupted by a face plant on granite a 1/2 mile from the trailhead. What I thought was going to be a trip to hospital only wounded my pride.

You might be asking what a Whitney noob could take away from trip by advanced hikers. One of the most obvious things is being able to depend on your partners. This is only gained by hiking together and knowing you can depend on those folks, especially when things turn to crap. We are an independent lot but when the going gets tough, we stick together. We were within eyesight one another from Ice House Trailhead at 7 AM until we reached Ice House Saddle at 4 PM. Mt. Whitney is a benign place most of the time during the summer but it can get real ugly, real fast. It's nice to know you can count on your partners to do the right thing when your world turns upside down.

60 Ain't the New 40

2011-11-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks, I have had more aches and pain than I have had in the last five years combined...even after the big gain high mileage hikes. The biggest difference now than five years ago is the loss of fitness comes very fast and my recovery rate has slowed dramatically.

Last weekend, I decided it was best to leave San Antonio Canyon and move up to Angeles Crest Hwy. for a while in my quest for 16 mile, +5,000' fitness level. The decision was to top Mt. Baden-Powell in less than 2 hours and return in less than 80 minutes. Both goals were accomplished, in substantial more time than usual. However, it was the first time in about a month and half that my knees were not achy after the trip...which is a big time plus. Another big plus was the lack of people on the trail and summit. I had the trail and summit to myself for 2 1/2 hours, which is about 2 1/2 hour more than I would have had if I had spent the morning in Ice House Canyon.

What I have learned few weeks I can't do what I used to do and this is going to take a lot more time than I had anticipated. I'm looking at December 1st as my back in shape date but I realize this is very optimistic.

My Condition Ain't in the Condition I Thought it Was

2011-10-02T21:26:00.000-07:00

I am now paying for my house being restored. Over this past summer, life and my house have conspired to sink my high level of fitness. I got it semi-back once only to have life screw it up, again. The past two weekends I have gotten aches and pains I did not expect for simple little trail walks. Last weekend, it was the large muscles, yesterday it was my knees. Oh, how the semi-mighty have fallen.

Accordingly, next week’s trip to Ontario Peak will be scaled back to Bighorn Peak…about my 3^rd non-snow trip to this peak. This peak is a hell of a lot more fun in the winter…lots of cool ways to and from.

This is all because of way too much time away from training. This is not to say I am totally out of shape, no one passed me on the way to Timber. I just do not have a 4^th gear or up hill stamina beyond about 3.75 miles.

Baby Steps

2011-09-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

For me baby steps are the 3.5-miles up to Icehouse Saddle. I take it easy all the way up and down. For me, that’s 2 MPH up and 3 down. Lot’s of folks would be thrilled to tears to be going this fast but when you reached the saddle in 78 minutes…107 is just a tad slow but ok all things considered.

I was getting a touch tried and bored as I approached the saddle…Icehouse Canyon in the 3 seasons is exercise, nothing more. After some eats, it was time to head down…and was I in for a surprise. My legs were roasted and toasted; therefore, I there was no push to parking lot just a leisure pace back.

Today, all the major muscle groups had discomfort and I was a bit sluggish all day…kind of like after 16 to 18 miles, +5,000+’ when I’m in shape.

Getting back into shape is a first class pain in the rear. If everything remains right in my world I’ll be back to 16 mile, +5,000’ hikes by November 1^st.

A Summer Down the Drain

2011-09-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

Five hikes in thirteen weeks of summer, that's it, period, exclamation point. In those same thirteen weeks, I had 4 episodes of lower back pain…I had not had that many in 4 years. With that said, the real reason for my inactivity was my house being restored after drain pipes failing in three rooms of my house.

I’m back in the saddle, again. Of course my friends decided to go on the 14,000’ tour this summer, which pissed me off. I really did want to do Mt. Whitney, Mt. Langley, Mt. Williamson and Mt. Shasta this past summer. You can throw in Mt. Tyndall and Mt. Muir, too.

Now, it’s back to square one, two and half mile runs during the week and a 7-mile hike the first weekend out. Five weeks from now, if my back doesn’t get to hurting and no pipes break I’ll be in reasonable shape…working towards being in shape for winter fun in November or December. Given my druthers, I rather miss out on summer fun than winter.

I hope y’all had a lot of fun in the Sierra this past summer.

Got Light Experience?

2011-07-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

Never been to the Sierra but you've been to Mt. San Gorgonio via the Vivian Creek Trail. Never climbed 6,000' to 14,505' but you've gone from hike the 6,000' from Baldy Village to Mt. Baldy. The list of ersatz this and that is rather long...and it does not have to be. One item that can be taken care rather easily and something you should do is hike at night. It's a whole other world when the sun goes down and the stars appear. Yes, there are stars in SoCal but you have to figure when to go.

Many head up the trail when the moon is full and the trail is bright but the stars take the night off. My friends and I will head out a couple - three times a year, usual near the new moon. For Whitney day hiking noobs this is the best time. You will figure out real fast whether or not that headlight/flashlight you are bring shines enough light on the trail...the more light you have the faster you can go without kick the crap out of rocks that stick up all over the MMWT.

Our favorite way of doing this is not as a night hike but as a light over night backpack. Our favorite destination is Mt. Baden-Powell. We used to go up the trail at Vincent Gulch but the views ain't all that swell and there since it is on the leeward side of the mountain there are very few cooling breezes. Now, we start at Dawson Saddle. The plan is to be on Mt. Throop around sunset so everyone can go ooh and ahh. Between Throop and Mt. Burnham the lights start to come up in the city, desert and our foreheads...this is where noobs find out whether their God awful headlights works, by the comment it is safe to assume most don't work all that swell. We summit Burnham from the west side. Then it on to Baden-Powell. Friday Night, we watched the marine layer recede then expand, recede once again and by morning it was in blanket mode. For the first time, we saw multiple shooting stars.

This ain't a big time challenge with a can't be beaten destination, it's a process trip, which needs to be soaked in.

16 Miles On Cool July Day In SoCal

2011-07-16T23:20:00.000-07:00

In four weeks I have gone from 7 miles, +2,600' to 16 miles, +4,600'. Each step up this ladder was not without some pain...mostly inmy legs. Today was no exception...it was a day I bite off just a bit more than I could chew. I guess that is what we all do when we are trying to reach a goal, you Mt. Whitney, for me it is getting back to fitness level last seen in May.

What is fit is a moving target. In 1997 when all this began for me, I would have sworn to you I was in tip-top shape as I started up the trail towards Mt. Whitney, in retrospect me and shape were not in the same country. Over the last 14 years, being in shape has been measured in what I want to accomplish in the mountains. The latest iteration is being able to keep up with 40 something youngsters I go out with most every weekend...not being the lead dog but the sweep not too far behind. Generally, the only people who beat me up the trail most weekend are my friends and acquaintances.

So, as you get closer to first experience in the Sierra, your first time over 11,500', work just a little harder, train an extra day during the week, go out on hikes that little longer and have a bit more gain. It will pay dividends when you show up for your first pancake at the Whitney Portal Store.

Sometimes You Need to be Pushed

2011-07-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

It would have been really easy to go slow and easy yesterday on my way to Ontario Peak but my hiking companion pushed...and I appreciated the push.

After a couple of slow trips up Ice House, I was ready for something more. I got my wish. By the time we reached the saddle I was totally soaked from humidity and a pace that total at 15 minutes off previous two weeks time to the saddle.

It appears it will take me about 5 weeks to shake off 8 weeks of inactivity. I will not be in Whitney day hike shape but I'm fairly certain I could backpack the MMWT without a problem...including a walk up the chute.

Life Sometimes Gets in the Way

2011-07-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

For me, life has been family, bad drain pipes, two separate back injuries and illness all in the space of 8 weeks. This does have a way of altering plans. If everything was right in the world, I would have been on the summit of Mt. Whitney in mid-May and Mt. Shasta yesterday but such is life.

So now, it time for hard work, which will be interrupted by the general contractor, who is putting my house back together. The hard work started two weeks ago with short flat 2-1/2 mile runs followed a trip wheezing my way to Ice House Saddle, followed up with longer hilly runs and a trip to Timber Mountain. This week, it is 3-1/2 mile runs and Ontario Peak.

Now, I will adjust my summer and early fall plans, 4 backpacking trips are down to 2, maybe three. Plus there is always the MR, which if life does rear its sometime ugly head is on my late summer or early fall radar.