Getting Ready for Mt. Whitney In SoCal and the Sierra

The Anatomy of a Winter Rescue

2021-01-28T08:46:00.000-08:00

A windy cold day in Ice House Canyon

This is my personal experience with an aviation rescue in Ice House Canyon more than a decade ago. On a day that more or less bright and sunny and windless. However, the conditions were spring icy.

At this time, few ventured up Ice House Canyon in winter. Therefore, it was my partner and I had the canyon to ourselves as we ascended. At about 2 1/2 miles into the the canyon I said, "Why don't we practice here on the way back?", His reply was, "Are you out of your f.....g mind?". I knew the conditions and I was trying for that exact response.

At this point my greyhound friend took off for Ice House Saddle. However, he took the wrong route and ended up on Timber Mountain with an unplanned mistaken trip down its east ridge. As I was waiting for him on Ice House Saddle, I had figured he had gone to Timber, not the east ridge. I expected we would meet back up in the parking lot. I was wrong.

I decided to traverse Bighorn Peak down into bottom of Ice House Canyon as practice. When I reached the canyon bottom there was a highly organized basic winter skills training group...and I do mean highly organized, packs were lined up back to back and there was a row of chairs for all participants. When I got there I said hello to a few people hanging around the chair and was ignored. I figured this was a good place to layer down. As I was doing this I heard a crash.

I turned around I watched one person hang up on a snag while 4 more were heading directly for me at speeds that had to approach 35 MPH. I danced around four bowling balls on 10 point crampons to avoid being taken out. They eventually went off 4' lip of a channel that had been cut by a torrential rain storm a week or so prior.

At this point, it became apparent there was a language difficulty between me and this group, they did not speak English nor me Korean. I let them know I would go and get help started. This was around 9:30 to 10 AM.

I took off down the canyon as fast as humanly possible on crampons. I took them off for good in Telegraph Canyon and was able to get Mt. Baldy Visitors Center before 11 AM.

We called the Angeles National Forest to start the rescue. This is where a comedy of errors commenced. To communicate the accident location the person I spoke with needed either a Tom Harrison Cartography Cucamonga Wilderness or Cucamonga Peak 7.5' USGS quad map. She had neither. She then told me to expect a call back in a few minutes.

Forty five minutes later, a forest employee comes in to the Visitors Center and said WVSAR was organizing a rescue at the Mt. Baldy Fire House. I decide to walk down and tell them I was the reporting party. As I was listening in, they were starting to send team up the canyon bottom from the trailhead ahead because they did not have a clue where these people were.

I then spoke up that I was the reporting party and was asked by the commander, where did the accident occur? He had a Cucamonga Peak 7.5' USGS Quad gridded for Universal Transverse Mercator. I pointed to the square kilometer where this had happened. Within minutes, San Bernardino Sheriff's Aviation was there to start the rescue. The helicopter was only able to drop an EMT because they were out of fuel. It would take until 3:30 PM to get all subjects headed to Arrowhead Medical Center.

My friend, he showed up at the Fire House thinking all the commotion was about him.

This would be more typical than atypical. Most who put themselves in these position have shortcutted many things not just one. These folks were so committed to self-arrest and glissading training they were blind to the dangerous conditions that existed that day. Many times my friends and I reroute or change entire days based on the conditions we find. You must be flexible. You must know when the day ends.

A Death on Mt. Whitney

2020-11-11T09:07:00.005-08:00

Lower Mt. Whitney Trail

One death is a tragedy. One death can be an awakening for many. Too many see a critique of circumstances of a death on any of our mountains as condescending, goulish, etc. It is not. It is to make people think, it is help people make changes for the positive. It is prevent another death under similar circumstances.

Cassandra Bravo, mother of two, lost her life in a fall off the Main Mt. Whitney Trail. According to reports, Ms Bravo was not prepared for a not going to the summit hike. Tank top and tights are not the proper clothing for a hike that goes up to 12,000'. I have taken that hike many times in November. I have seen weather turn on a dime and go from calm to howling, I have broken through ice crossing creeks and I have had my worst moments as an "experienced hiker". This can be a really dangerous place this time of your, if you do not take it seriously.

Based on the history, this fall most likely occurred above Mirror Lake and below Trailside Meadow. This is the place angles are right to product a 100' fall. This is an area that I have walked of the trail more times than I have stayed on it while traveling to and from Trail Camp. This is an area that has produced almost all the deaths on this trail below the Trail Camp. The last I know of is Cindy Qui in 2017.

Most go out in winter with a "if I am moving I can stay warm" attitude and pack. We see it with trailrunners and hikers alike. I have seen it on Mt. Baldy, Mt. Baden-Powell and in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Once you can't move you are screwed. Once you can't move and phone does work because there is no line of sight to a cell tower you are screwed. Once you can't move and you are in a narrow canyon and your inReach may not work you could be screwed. If the weather is bad it will take SAR many hours to get to you...IF THEY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. If you are injured, it will take them upwards to 20 hours to get to a road and an ambulance.

Accidents in some cases are preventable, we do not know one way or the other whether this one was or not. What we do know is Ms Bravo did not have a 24 hour pack, which may have helped her survive this...again, there is not enough information to say either way.

It is your life. Take it seriously, your family deserves it.

How to Stay Safe and Alive in the Winter of 2020-21

2020-11-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

Crossing the Mt. Baden-Powell summit ridge is marginal conditions

Per normal 4 died people died this past winter...not normal was one as a SAR team member. There are costs to going out in winter under prepared and unprepared.

I have been going out in winter since 1998. I never put myself in a position to be air rescued, assisted by anyone or have been lost. I have been out in extreme weather plenty of times. All those time it was with TRUSTED FRIENDS AND PARTNERS, like on days pictured. I do not do dangerous things with people I neither know nor trust, like the day above.

When I go out I take the gear and clothing I need to get where I want to go. This sometimes means taking upwards to 30 pounds of required things. Many would make the same trip utilizing their summer pack, with not enough clothing plus a pair of Microspikes and poles. This is the crux of the our winter problems. People do not take the time learning what is and what is not safe, all they want is the prize. Unfortunately, for far too many this ends of being a long ride in a hearse...and it does not have to be this way.

The following will illustrate why people get lost and hurt. On a crystal clear day a few years ago. A friend and I were stopped at the top of switchbacks on the Bowl Trail of Mt. Baldy. We watched people crash and burn trying to come down the ridge from 9,200' with their spikes and poles when an axe, crampons and a helmet were required to descend this slope...SAFELY. The first group who went by us continued down the the ridge toward Good Canyon. Conditions were such, if the went down far enough, they would not have been able to get out, West Valley Search and Rescue rescued person under similar circumstances a few days prior. I ran after them with snowshoes on to turn them around. The next group stood on the trail, saw these tracks into Good Canyon and asked is that the way down. When I pointed them the correct way, they responded are you sure. These people had been to Mt. Baldy plenty of times but in winter things are different. Directional signs are gone, minor key points are gone but the large ones are not. Mt. Baldy and Mt. Harwood were still visible but these people knew nothing about land navigation.

Sadly, nothing can be done for those who go up this mountain in white out conditions because they need this prize. There are way too many "experienced hikers" dead because they did not respect this mountain or the weather, 3 have gone off the back side in these conditions in recent years. As an aside, the term experienced mountaineer is never used in the news reports when people are lost, injured or die...because these people take this seriously!!! They don't take spikes and poles as main gear, just as an adjunct to their serious gear, if at all.

Please read the About the picture note at the bottom...this is what does go wrong every winter weekend in SoCal.

What can you do to remain alive and well in this winter...

Only go out with people you trust...Winter is too serious to take the not serious with you.
Do your homework...This does not include asking people can I do Mt. Baldy with Microspikes and poles. Anyone who goes up Mt. Baldy should have both mountaineering gear and 24 hour pack. Too many get, hurt, lost or attend to others not to have the latter. There are too many spots on the trails, which require mountaineering gear.
Think about the descent as you ascend...NEVER GO HIGHER THAN YOU CAN SAFELY DESCEND. This is when most accidents happen
Stay with your group...Not with FSR radios but within sight of one another.
If one turns around in the group, someone must turn around with this person...No one is left to go back by themselves. Unfortunately, you cannot force people to turn around, see the dearly departed on Mt. Baldy last year but you do not have to go out with them, again.
Gear and clothing, fitness level determine destination; not desire...I want to do Shasta or Rainier. I have the skills to both. I do not have the stamina to do either at this point in time. Know when to end your ascent and head back.
Learn land navigation and take published maps and good compass...Most do not know much about their electronics and use multi use devices on cold winter days. Published maps and compasses do not do batteries.
Never travel above the tree line in white out conditions...People are easily disoriented and there are at least 4 people who have died in recent years by walking off the northside of Mts. Baldy or Harwood. All these deaths were preventable, if these people either hunkered down on the summit or stayed below the treeline. Hmmm...you have to have enough clothing to hunker down. The plan for many is "If I am moving, I do not need to have heavy warm clothes." I was told just last winter on Mt. Badeen-Powell by a trailrunner where the upper mountain was ice.

Finally, some food for thought. Almost all who get lost, hurt and die in our mountains use light traction devices as their only form of mountaineering gear or less. What it says to me is you are you are either not serious or you don't know what you don't know. I do not want to go out with you in winter.

After the first death of this winter season, someone(s) will posit, anyone can die in the mountains. Sure, anyone can but they don't. It is the experienced 3 season hikers, who want the prize but do not want to pay the price to do it safely. Of those experienced hikers who have died in the last 7 or 8 years, I only know of one who had mountaineering skills and he made a deadly mistake, going out on a cornice mid-day when the temperature was in the 50s, I watched the recovery operation from Bighorn Peak.

About the picture: This was a December day in 2014. Our plan was to climb to the summit of Mt. Baden-Powell and snowshoe across the ridge to Dawson Saddle, where we had left a car. There was snow in the forecast and some wind.

As we approached the summit ridge, we encountered heavy snow, high winds and 1/4 mile visibility. One of our team member was spent and another developed hypothermia on the summit...day over.

By the time we started down, our tracks on the ridge were gone and there was woman at the east end of the ridge in a white winter ski parka and jeans. She said she had followed us up and was waiting for us to return to show her the way down, since her tracks were gone. If those two things did not go wrong for us, chances are she would have died on this mountain this December day.

Mt. Baden-Powell can be a beast in the winter, especially when descending. We got off line to the east into the avalanche chute. Nothing we had not dealt with on previous trips. Just hang a left and you are back on the trail ridge. Easier said than done with someone who has neither winter skills nor gear. However, a mistake to the west would have been a lot worse...steeps and thickets will test your skills or, in her case, the lack thereof.

Heat, Fire, Rescues and a Death

2020-09-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

Recently, I saw a post people were shocked, I tell you shocked, it was so stinking hot on a high peak. Some third rate weather site said it would be 20 F cooler, who's use does not surprise me since most people use third rate mapping software. There is a simple formula that I have posted I don't know how many times over the years. Temperature move ~3.5 F for every 1,000' of gain/loss. So, if Fritz says it is going be 116 F in the Inland Valley, it is going 87 F at the top of a well known 10,064' peak, not 64 F like the third rate forecast service says it will be. Go to weather.gov it has real time sensors all over the mountains, which allow you fine tune your forecast and extrapolate it to the the elevation you are going. NO SURPRISES!!!

It is 120 F and there are fires, again, I am shocked, I tell you shocked. Fires and heat go together like chips and salsa. You must be cognizant of whenever you go out in these conditions. You also must be aware that authorities are going to be overwhelmed with rescues people with heat related illnesses and fire suppression. You may need to self rescue. Again, I will continue to say you need to have a board field paper maps because the trail may not be an option. I hike regularly on a ridgeline that has on a few ridges and defiles off it. I know my options, just in case...do you know your off trail options?

Saturday a woman was plucked off of Strawberry Peak during a 100 F hike. Heat related illness was the cause. You cannot carry enough water for many trips. You must account for every drop of water in these conditions. Your life does depend on it.

A woman died in the Santa Monica Mountains Saturday from heat exhaustion, per the new report. Again, use the formula. it was going to be close to or 100 F in the highest part of these mountains. If you go out there ill prepared bad things will happen.

Start early, start high, keep track of your water and electrolytes but better yet...just do not go!!! I have been hiking almost 25 years I have never gone out in these conditions...and I did not start Saturday.

Could You Tell Me Where I Am?

2020-08-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had just reached a summit when someone came up to me and asked, "Am I at the peak?" My response was, "Which peak?", his response, "You know, THE PEAK." my response was, "There are many peaks on this ridge." and it went on. I knew what he was looking for and where it was. This was a demonstration of how too many come into the wilderness these day. This was not the worst incidence of this day.

As I was returning from my hike, I saw a guy across the street looking at an ascending trailhead. When I reached the road, he asked if he was a particular trailhead and could he get to a certain peak from here. My response was no, he was not at that trailhead but he could get to that peak indirectly, let me show you on your map. No map, only a sat phone with maps, which he did not know how to use to ascertain the his current location or the where he wanted to be, there is on so much information on a 2" x 3" screen.

We have had people die in our local backcountry sadly and preventable because they are navigationally clueless. This occurs in winter the signage many count on for directions is buried. At this point they count on their phones, which do not have enough information, in too many cases the wrong information and are trail-centric.

On this day, I used Gaia, which failed for the umpteenth time, Fitbit tracker, a camera and every other function was available on my phone because I did not put it into airplane mode. In the summer, this is not an issue. In winter, this is a big issue. Batteries and cold are not friends. If you are going to use electronics, use dedicated electronics, have extra batteries and back them up with paper maps, altimeter and compass. It is only your life.

This problem is getting worse!!!

The Advantages of Having Land Navigation Skills

2020-08-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

A 13,500' summit which had not seen in a year, according to the register

Many of us like to hike where few go. In these times, I choose my hikes with great care to limit exposure. Yes, I do know that contract COVID outdoors is slim but I do believe going on highly traveled single track trails to large gathering spots tighten those odds. Therefore, I stay off front country trails.

Many of us who are really experienced hikers, not the one's who regularly die in the winter, have seen many trails depopulate as hiking has become more concentrated to a handful of trails and destinations. We have seen these places many times exercising to the point they are no longer important to us, especially in these times.

If you go old school and learn how to land navigate utilizing store bought maps and find like minded people you will find there are a lot both trails and routes out there to explore. These routes will not take you to the current glamour peaks but this process will be more challenging. The most challenging thing about Mt. Baden-Powell, Cucamonga Peak and Mt. Baldy these days is finding a parking spot on the weekend.

What a map gives is scale. Something you can't find on 3" x 5" phone. It is something that can get you out of jam when you make mistakes when you climb routes. It also shows the old trails that are not on your phone. I go regularly on some of those both here and in the Sierra. And in some cases they have trails where trails never existed...like a recent hike in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.

Today, we live in a shortcut society. Social media like everything has both a blessing and curse component. You can ask any question you want about anything that being the blessing the curse loss of the learning process. The prose of John Robinson and Jerry Schad about our local trails have been lost. Everyone wants IG photos at the same places Potato Chip Rock, the brass sign on Mt. Baldy, the false summit of Cucamonga Peak other more beautiful places are rarely seen. You can tell what is popular and what is not by summit signs on the former and not on the latter.

Since I have started back hiking after the initial shutdown and a few weeks to let the pent up energy expend. I have been on trails were I have not seen more than 50 people, most times it under 20 and a few times under ten. Many of the trails were formerly popular, many of these trips are on segments of of heavily traveled trails. I have been on summits six times and seen less than 10 people. Recently, I did a trip where I topped three summit, where I saw no one. Glamorous...not in Baldy and San G sense. However, 40 minutes by yourself and a friend overlooking LA Basin out to Catalina more than makes up for it.

Stay well, stay safe.

The picture: This summit was a class 2/3 route finding gem, where our map was in and out of the cargo pocket all day. This was only half the story. We ran into to people who were the last ones there at our campsite later the same day.

Strategies for Hiking in the Heat

2020-08-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

As someone who helped someone off of Mt. Baden-Powell, who was dehydrated to the point he could not move. I am very well aware what can happen, if you do not stay hydrated.

It is not just water and electrolytes, it where you hike and extra clothing you need to carry. I will get into the multiple reasons for this.

Here goes...

Get the forecast for where you are going to hike...Go to weather.gov You can get a forecast for both trailhead elevation and the apex of your hike.
Hike from a high elevation trailhead...If it is 68 F at 8000', it is 80 F at 5000' and 90 F at 2000'
Start early...The temperature goes up a bunch in the first couple of hours past the sunrise time.
Take a water filter, if you have one. Take more water/electrolytes, if you do not...I will take a 2 L hydration bladder and a frozen L of water and electrolytes for an 8 to 10 mile RT hike.
Take advantage of your surroundings...Dunk your head in the creek and soak your feet, if a nice cool shaded creek is along the way.
Take more clothing...With heat comes thunderstorms, with thunderstorms comes a 30 F drop in temperatures. Hypothermia is a big issue. FS Trail Volunteers regularly hand out trash bags to the unprepared. The additional clothing, along with frozen drinks, allow you to insulate your food.
Slow your pace...This will cut down on fluid loss.
Think process, not destination...If the heat says no mas, turn around do not force the issue. Free helicopter rides will cost you your pack and its contents.
Be aware of your surroundings...Fire danger heightens during heat episodes.
Study a published paper map for secondary and tertiary points of exit in case a fire blocks your trail...I have asked this what they would do if a fire blocked the trail they were on. Almost all do not know where they would go, most do not have maps and those who do do not know now to read them.

The person we rescued was on the ascent on a hot and very humid day. We were told about by another hiker who chose not to aid this guy. We had people pass us on the way down and it took us 45 minute to reach this hiker, who was splayed across the trail. His group had left him alone while all of them rushed down to call for help.

While we were aiding this hiker, many passed by without offering assistance. One man, a Los Angeles County EMT, stopped and confirmed he was dehydrated. By this time, we were feeding both water and electrolytes.

Eventually, we got him up and moving. A few assisted steps at a time until he was walking on his own. About halfway down we were visited by a Los Angeles County EMT from a helicopter to assess this man. Given an option of being lifted onto the helicopter or walking out, our guy walked.

The moral to this story...DO NOT COUNT ON ANYONE TO HELP YOU!!! Too many people want the cookie and do not see any value in help a fellow human being. This guy should not have gone unassisted on at the 8,900' level on Mt. Baden-Powell for more than a few minutes.

What Did You Learn From the Incidents in San Gorgonio Wilderness?

2020-07-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Typical junction sign in the San Gorgonio Wilderness

Many of you are new to hiking and have come to social media to find out where to hike, "I have hiked to X, what's next?" or they "plan" an adventure beyond their skill level. These are a few of the things that get people into trouble and put others at risk, other hikers, Forest Service Volunteers, sheriff deputies and SAR volunteers.

Sheriff's Aviation Incident...A hiker leaves the San Bernardino Divide Trail to get water at High Meadow Spring. He leaves his pack on the trail...what can go wrong? He becomes disoriented and can't find his way back to the trail. Screams, hollers and aviation is called out to search for him. Something like this has happened many times on Mt. Baldy, once in the past week. It is so easy to correct, if you just keep your head and pull out a compass or map and compass.

The Divide Trail is oriented east-west. The water source is to the south. All you need to put your compass to north and you will intersect somewhere near your pack...where people are to help you, if you sit and wait for them to arrive.

Unfortunately, people double down on moving without using navigational aides, generally in a the wrong directions and into areas that do not resemble trails in anyway shape or form. Eventually, panic sets in and if they have a tracker, it get set off. This hiker eventually extricated himself.

SAR Rescue...A pair of hikers miss a signed junction and never pick up new land features they were experiencing. This a wash, rinse and repeat deal for the Vivian Creek Trail to San Gorgonio Mountain. People get to the junction directional sign and continue west rather the south...and continue and continue until they reach the next set of directional signs and at 10,000'...Dollar Lake Saddle. What do we do now? Well, if you don't have a map or have a map and don't know how to read it. It is panic time.

The sign here gives all four directional options, which do you choose? One is to go back to whence they came. This doesn't work because the get up and go has got up and left; and the idea of climbing 1,200' back to the junction just does not work. South Fork would puts them on the wrong side of the mountains. This leaves the Momyer Trail. Without maps or knowledge, people do not know what they are getting into...9.6 miles to the bottom plus a walk back to parking lot. Many give up somewhere along this trail and wait for morning hopping someone in their family has called in the cavalry.

You have to pay attention when you hike. This is both a social and learning experience...or should be.

What can you do to remain in a hiking state of grace?

Buy the appropriate published map(s) for your trip...You need to study them to the point you know the direction of travel and all land features; such as trail camps, and trail junctions.
Pay attention on your ascent...On the Vivian Creek Trail, look for the trail camps, creek crossings and junctions. Are they where you thought they would be? If you do not run into them on your return in the proper time...stop and think!!!
Keep your map in your cargo pocket for easy access...If you have a hint geographic ambiguity, pull it out and look. If Dobbs Peak is to your south and should not be, chances are you made a mistake.
Do not compound problems...Once you have realize you made a mistake either stop and wait for help or go back in the opposite direction until reach an area you know. If you still have a problem, sit down and wait for help.

There are more rescues today than ever before because people do not take the time to learn the basics or carry map or compass. Many carry electronics but do not know either their capabilities or how to use them. They are a good adjunct to map and compass but they do not replace this ancient technology.

We all make mistakes. I comes down to how big your mistakes are. Are they measured in feet or miles?

The Modern Hiker and Basic Skills

2020-07-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday in the San Gorgonio Wilderness a hiker was rescued because he left his pack at the trail as he searched for a water source. This source was south of the trail. I have been back to this source, which is in a trail camp. To get out of this location, if lost, all you need is a compass to point north and follow the bearing. You will intersect the trail. Personally, I have experienced worse geographic ambiguity than this. In this Wilderness no where near a trail, we had taken the wrong ridge on a climb and finally figured out we were not in Kansas any longer. Our 7.5' USGS quad was pulled, three of us looked and agreed where we were and course corrected. Map, six eyes and 3 brains. Too many view these basic skills not worth their time...after all I have Gaia or All Trails. I use the former and it showed a trail section that did not exist in for at least 23 years.

Over the last few weeks, I have run into people who have made minor mistakes, which could have ended up being major ones. Both involved miles worth of mistakes, not feet. This did not include a group trying to land navigate off a series of pictures...what can go wrong here. The first group was literally a few feet from trace trail from a summit looking at All Trails for the information they needed. The direction of travel arrow had to sitting right on the trace trail. Forty-five minutes later and a mile away I ran into this group, who asked me how far are they from their original destination? They were taken aback when told them to go back to go and not to collect $200. Saturday, we ran into a pair going up a summit trace trail in search of trail camp that was 3 miles away. No one wants to take the time to go to caltopo.com and study a new area they are going until they know what to expect...junctions, based on terrain where the trace trails can or should be to summits and how it should take to reach a destination based of distance and elevation gain.

We do not hike in city parks. We hike in National Forests and Parks. There is limited signage and those signs, for the most part, give only direction. Therefore, many litter the trails and surroundings with...

Cairns...which are suppose to be personal. Up ascending, kicked out descending
Surveyors Tape...Most of the time I see this is on ridges and canyons, where it is not needed at all. This is trash
Trail Blocks...My group is going to be spread out for miles and I don't want them going to Mt. X or down this or than trail to parts they don't know so, let block spur, main and trace trails we are not using

I have spoken with people who have told me, I will not learn land navigation because I hike with those who do. I don't know how many groups of people you have hiked with but I have gone through a lot of groups over the last 23 years. People move on to bigger and better things, stop hiking altogether or have different hiking goals that make them not compatible with you. If you down have this salient basic skill, you are screwed.

This is both an easy and possibly expensive proposition to master. All you need are maps and a compass. The expensive part is 7.5' quads, which are now $15/each compared to $4 I paid for most of the ones I own. The USGS stopped publishing them in 2006. You need to get them for a 3rd party like mytopo.com These are the best for serious navigation but for the trail bound 3 season hiker a Harrison Map will do. They are easy to read and have all the data you need to learn.

The easiest way to learn is to go up to Mt. Baldy, pull out your Harrison map, roughly orient it and start figuring out what peak is what based on the contour lines and shaded relief. Most find this easy. Cucamonga, Bighorn, Ontario... Then, go to other places and do the same thing. Become comfortable with this skill. Finally, learn how to triangulate off of two known positions.

Your GPS Ain't All That Accurate

2020-06-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

The GPS is a wonderful, if you a basic knowledge of land navigation and how the unit functions. First off, the government has mandated they not be as accurate as the ones they use to fly cruise missiles up some unsuspecting terrorist Toyota Tahoma's tail pipe.

This brings us to the most misunderstood GPS function...distance!!! GPS do not do distance particularly well because of a multitude of factors; such as but not limited to, where the unit is on you body or pack, forest cover or narrowness of a canyon you might be hiking in. After Gaia and my LG V30 did not like each other so much Saturday, the track went wild and shut off...I have never had this happen in any of the 5 Garmin GPS units I have owned. I decided to run a test on the way back down to see if the Gaia/LG V30 was the problem or conditions.

I tested this along with my Garmin GPSMAP 64 to see if this was an anomaly or terrain. The Gaia set up went nutso on a forested ridgeline. The results were 1.80 miles on this segment for Gaia and 1.94 miles for the Garmin. The tracks on both units were perfect. Therefore, the ascent problem was just an anomaly.

The difference in distance is normal. I have run many tests between Gaia and a couple of phones and a couple of Garmin GPS. They always come up different. Therefore, it is not wise you tell people it is x miles from y to z. These things are not the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Do not treat them as such. They are ballpark numbers. The most accurate numbers are done with a wheel..see what you get with a permit for backpacking trips in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.

You must have a basic knowledge of land navigation or these units are next to useless. Recently, I ran into a group at a junction that was going to a summit, whose trail was nearby. I went on to another peak a mile or so away. Upon my return this same group asked where that peak was...again. The were about 3/4 miles past where needed to be. I asked if they had been here previously? No. Did they study a published paper map? No. Did you have a map? No, just a phone. This is typically of the people I run into that have geographic ambiguity problems. Our National Forests are not city parks...I do know difference because I basically grew up in the our country's biggest one. Phone maps do not lend themselves to study or group use in the field.

As bad as distance is...elevation is worse. It is based on barometric pressure, which changes with each and every weather system. Therefore, many of the signs on summits have elevations based on what someone saw on their GPS.

Let's bring this all together with a quick look at the Mt. Baden-Powell information. All Trails has it at 8.9 miles RT to 9,407', the Angeles National Forest at 8 miles to 9,356'. PCTA to 9,245'. The topo has it at 9,399', which I believe to be higher due to seismic activity and slightly less than 8 miles based on my hiking times and doing more times than most. The All Trails is based on GPS. The distance is based hiking on a heavily forested trail, which plays havoc with distance because GPS units are getting fixes with few satellites.

Clear as mud, right.

To Whitney First Timers 2020...The Weather

2020-02-29T12:35:00.001-08:00

Sunrise on Mt. Whitney

The coldest temperatures I have experienced in the Sierra were in August and September...the summer!!! Not in the winter, where I have sat at Trail Camp with a vest on watching people trying to negotiate their way through the cables for about a half hour and spent nights at between 6,000' and 11,000'.

You have to study the weather as you approach your trip and take extra this and that with you for last minute adjustments before you head up the trail. My coldest night was not up high, it was below 10,000' at Lower Rock Creek Crossing on the PCT. My coldest summits were in early August and mid-September at below 10 F. Do not fall into the I did this way and you can, too trap. Every trip is different. For instance, in 7 summit trips to the Mt. Whitney I have seen 20 minutes of rain on my third trip. There was a period that every backpacking trip saw rain...mostly on days when it was not predicted. SIERRA WEATHER RULE #1...THE WEATHER IS UNPREDICTABLE PREPARE FOR THE WORST.

Most day hikers will take to the trails with less than is required because they believe nada can happen. Well, I have seen a ton of green looking people on the Sierra Crest yakking their brain away unable to move. Most do not have enough clothing to withstand the freezing temperatures that surely come before sunrise. They pray let me get to Trail Camp where someone with a sleeping bag will take care of me.

Backpackers by nature have enough of this and that and can survive a night, even if their 40 F Big 5 Sporting Goods sleeping bag is insufficient. They have jackets and the like and they are 2,000' lower with 7 F higher temperatures than those in trouble on the Sierra Crest.

I will not go into the needs for backpackers. The margin of error for them is huge. Day hikers not so much. You need to take enough clothing to spend the night in the Smithsonian Hut on the summit...PERIOD END OF SENTENCE or you are not prepared for this trip. I would normally take...

Rain Jacket and Pant...I have worn these for wind protection on at least 3 of these trips.
Marmot Wind Shirt...the equal of Polartec 200 fleece
800 Fill Power Down Jacket
2 pairs of Gloves...one for stops, if you goal is to be on the summit at sunrise. I have had a pair of frozen gloves...literally.

I know this works down to about 10 F because I have had every stitch of this on for two trips to this mountain.

Here is hoping your trip has clear weather and it is 50 F on the summit. Hmmm...nah, be there at sunrise when it is stinking cold and experience at its absolute best.

To Winter First Timers 2020...Planning and Preparation

2020-02-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

Lone Pine Creek Cascade at Whitney Portal

Today, sadly, most grab their packs and go with absolutely no thought and head into storms and white out like Saturday. Me, I start mid-week by a glance at the weather to give me a clue what to expect. What I primarily want to know is wind, then temperature and finally precipitation.

This to many would seem bassackwards but at a certain wind level there is absolutely no reason to spend a night in a barn because the Palm Springs Tram is not running because you were caught up high and did not want walk down the Skyline Trail. You need to know the temperature for the day of and the low temperature for the following day, you prepare base layers for the former and insulation layers and safety gear for the latter. Based on the level of precipitation, I determine whether it is Gore-Tex or the stuff that is usually carried every trip...that's right, every trip the entire year, not just winter or when rain is in the forecast.

Not a word about conditions, so far, because I have an general idea of what to expect wherever I am going to old standbys or something new with some exceptions like cornices and avalanche conditions. To go out in winter safely, you must be a student of winter or you will have trips end before they begin or you will not be doing winter safely.

I have my pack set up for winter. It is filled with base stuff and some items from the previous trip. Once decisions of the trip have been made, my back is fine tuned along with clothing. Within 30 minutes everything is ready to go including a set of 7.5' quads, which most, if not all of you, do not have. These maps are essential for safe winter mountaineering when you and the trail are in different zip codes.

This is much easier for me than it is for you. I have 23 years worth of gear and clothing hanging around my house...yes some of it is 23 years old. I have choices both in gear and clothing but most importantly is experience. If you are going to go out in winter long term, you have to commit to learning and go on a different track than many of your spikes and poles friends. These are the people who will eventually get you into trouble with bad choices because of the lack of gear but most importantly there refusal to learn about winter travel.

ABOUT SATURDAY'S CONDITIONS: As I walked up the trail, I knew white out was something that could be an issue. About 3 miles into my trip, I could not see more than a 1/4 mile. This should be a major concern to those without proper clothing for a few reasons, among them the only way to keep warm is movement and if something goes wrong aviation does not fly; therefore rescues are measured in hours, not minutes.

To Whitney First Timers 2020...A Cautionary Tale for Those Without Winter Experience

2020-02-20T10:38:00.000-08:00

A single digit August morning moving toward Mt. Whitney

On May 4th and 5th 2019 one group of 3 "experienced hikers", Messers Wiley, Gakhar and Gloria, almost died on Mt. Whitney. These people were very smart people in their chosen field, according to their resume. However, their non existent climbing resume included a not so pleasant spikes and poles experience on San Gorgonio Mountain. So, where do you go after first not so pleasant experience on snow, the very dangerous for those with little winter skills...Mt. Whitney.

Let's start with a big hat tip to the Gonzaga University students and faculty first responders!!! Without their assistance, this outcome could have been much different.

Let go over the trip

PLANNING

There really wasn't any to speak of, sadly. Let's go, let's do, what can go wrong seems to be the extent of it. We will put together a group without any appreciable winter and 14,000' experience; and we will go to Mt. Whitney after the mother of all winters. There is little wonder why this turned into such a mess.

Prior to doing my trip in May 2007, I had been going out in winter 10 years, which meant I had the clothing, gear and skills to do this trip; them, not even a little. It was a trip of make do...jeans, summer boots and school backpacks, much like my first trip in August 1997...but that was summer.

They arrived at Whitney Portal at 2 AM and proceeded to look for the other half of their group, when they were not found they decided rather than go the following day, they would go at 7:30 AM with the expectation of reaching the summit. Whatever planning they had...was gone. It was we will make it up as we go along.

Somewhere along the way, Mr. Gakhar discovered he purchased a second pair of Microspikes rather than a pair of crampons, why the hell he took an Amazon box with him is beyond me. Still, the plan did not change...we are going for the summit.

Eventually, the bushel full of mistakes caught up with them at the western base of Mt. Muir.

THE HIKE

First, this trip is not a hike, it mountaineering. The mountaineering begins where the snow and ice begin. It requires mountaineering skills both up and down. These skills are mostly mental...decision making. To make the proper decisions you have to have experiences to base them on. These people lacked the experience to make the right decisions. Based on the Gonzaga narrative, Mr. Wiley took charge while suffering from an extreme case of summit fever. Based on my experience, knowledge of the area and their gear and skill level, this trip should have ended at Trailside Meadow or Trail Camp. The former, if the trail was the trail to Consultation Lake, and the latter, if the route took a direct route up from Trailside Meadow avoiding the most dangerous trail section in these conditions.

When they reached The Chute at 2:30 PM, traveling at less than 1 MPH, and decided to climb it, which was a mistake for many reasons including time of day, lack of clothing, lack of skill but most importantly Mr. Gakhar lack of crampons. By this hour, the upper part of The Chute is starting to ice up as the sun started to disappear behind the Sierra Crest, in 2007 we returned to Trail Crest at about this time and it was shaded to the point we move well to east and down to the sun prior to glissading because of the icy conditions at the top.

Once they reached Trail Crest, these guys were stuck. However, they were clueless to their fate. On the way up Messers Gakhar and Gloria left their packs at the deadly rock band on the way up at Mr. Wiley's suggestion...deadly because the slope cants into it and out of control glissaders end up there at high speeds. I don't know why a day hiker would leave their pack for amounts to a six mile round trip, I have left my backpack at Lower Trail Crest 4 times in the summer but always took a 13 L summit pack. It was close to 4 PM and they were still 3 hours plus from the summit. 3 HOURS!!! They are traveling with little water, clothes, food and it is getting colder. This, also, puts them in jeopardy of walking off the cliffs around Mirror Lake, an area that has killed at least 3 "experienced hikers".

When they arrived at Trail Crest, they decided to do the icy class 3 Mt. Muir...a mountain well above their pay grade, rather than continue to Mt. Whitney. Mr. Gakhar senses that and eventually returns to Trail Crest without attempting Muir. While climbing Mt. Muir, Mr. Wiley is injured and advises Mr. Gloria to go back and get help as he sets off an InReach and starts texting friends. Mr. Gloria joins Mr. Gakhar at Trail Crest. The InReach brings no immediate relief, an aviation unit would show up in the morning with SAR personnel...identified as Rangers by the Gonzaga group.

Now, Gakhar and Gloria would have to share body heat as the temperatures started to fall to less than 15 F, according to the nearest reporting station. This was the first thing they did right all day. At 8 PM, The Chute was a sheet of ice and glissading was not an option. To get you their packs, they would have needed more the than a basic skill set and much better footwear than they were wearing...along with a pair of crampons for Mr. Gakhar. This choice was not without consequences, they were near death when the Gonzaga "rescue team" arrived and started to warm up Gakhar and Gloria.

THE RESCUE

The 3 were extremely lucky that a group as well prepared as this group was showed up...see the picture of Mr. Gakhar with a beautiful Mountain Hardwear down parka on (link below). It was not his.

They warmed Messers Gakhar and Gloria up and they got them down the mountain because their injuries did not call for a lift rescue. Mr. Wiley, on the other hand, had to await and larger helicopter to lift him from Mt. Muir almost 23 hours after he set off his inReach.

It would not have been uncommon for people to come up similarly geared and clothed as they and pass them by as they headed to Mt. Whitney. My friends and I took care of a guy that had 45 minutes worth of people passing him by on Mt. Baden-Powell a few years ago. They ended up seeing a bunch of heroes from Gonzaga, who did the right things.

MY THOUGHTS

Nothing that happened here was new. It happens every winter weekend in SoCal. People come unprepared and climbers with winter gear and skills pull their chestnuts out of the deep freeze. The sad thing is all the information is out there for what is needed to be out in winter safely. There is way too much I did this way and you can, too. Eric De Splinter took a totally inexperienced Gabrielle Wallace on a 3 hour tour of Cucamonga Peak this winter with brand spanking new crampons that did not work with her footwear. What is the worst that can happen? Hmmm...5 days in Cucamonga Canyon.

These were smart people. You do not get that far in their field of endeavor without some serious brain power; however, they choose to a high school mountain with a kindergarten education and put others at risk in the process. I am sure it was not easy to get Gakar and Gloria down The Chute in their addled state. This took a lot of time and skill.

From my experiences, too many try to compensate for the lack of skills by carrying PLB type devices. The bottom line is they put others at risk by doing so, mostly their friends and neighbors because they are the first ones there...like this tale. Search and Rescue and aviation show up later. Winter skills and the proper gear have a cost in time and money. They cannot be acquired at the Youtube School of Mountaineering or at Acme Brands Climbing Equipment Store...see the Wile E. Coyote/The Roadrunner cartoons. My friends and have spent thousand of hours in the mountains and thousands of dollars on gear and clothing to do something we love. We made mistakes in the beginning but the mistakes have become fewer and not as serious as they were 20 years ago.

If you have a permit before 7/1 to 7/15, go to Mt. Whitney and unlike this group only go as far as you gear and skill carry you. You will be richer for the experience. You do not want to be on the 11 PM news or ripped to pieces on forums for your foolishness.

Finally, could you have provided this type of assistance to these hikers? If not, you are not prepared.

ABOUT THE PICTURE: You will see people on this mountain in the middle of the summer with shorts and t-shirts but this kind of weather is not always what you are going find in the Sierra. This day we hit the summit when it was still in the single digits. This would happen one other time in September when it was technically still summer. It behooves you to follow the weather leading up to your trip and the forecast for it plus a day. The weather in the Sierra is predictably unpredictable.

Gonzaga Story

What to Expect this Spring and Early Summer

To Mt. Whitney First Timers 2020...Your Trip Determines The Training Regiment

2020-02-18T09:13:00.002-08:00

Timberline Lake area Onion Valley to Whitney Portal Trip

You don't have to run a marathon to train for a marathon. However, if you are running that marathon at 14,505', it helps to go there and acquire some experience at those lofty elevations. This is the one of things I wished I did too many years ago.

You do not have to hike 22 miles to hike the 22 miles back and forth from Mt. Whitney on the MMWT. I have done it twice. Once my max training profile was 12 miles, +5,000' and my second and final day hike was 16 miles, +4,800'. Believe me, the second time was much more enjoyable but it was not only from the distance but from experience I had gained in the 2 years in between trips.

I have had 1 winter/spring trip up the MMWT, 1 trip via Cottonwood Pass, 2 via New Army Pass and the final one via Kearsarge Pass. These backpacking trips where much easier than the day hikes. Absolutely, zero pressure go get anywhere and back. For anyone doing a backing trip up the MMWT, it is rather simple. You train for 6 miles, +3,600' with a 20 to 35 lb. pack. That is it. The trip to the summit with 15 to 16 lb. pack is cake. Oh, I have a ton of high Sierra experience, which makes the biggest of difference. To be quite frank, this is what many avoid like Coronavirus...and I truly do not know why. The Eastern Sierra is 200-260 miles away for most in the SoCal.

The biggest difference between day hike #1 and #2 was as much the additional training as it was going to the Sierra and living a couple of days over 11,000'. Being a backpacker helps immensely. It gets and keeps you higher for longer periods.

Most of you will ignore this advice in favor of another trip up Vivian Creek to San Gorgonio Mountain. Nothing is going to get you ready for the granite above Mirror Lake or the elevation at Trail Camp and above in SoCal.

For a day hike, just do progressively hard hikes into the 16 to 18 mile range with ending with 5,000' to 6,000' of gain. Go to the Sierra a month before you day trip and head out to either Cirque Peak or Mt. Langley...depending whether New Army Pass is open or not. If it closed to the snowphobic, go to Cirque through Cottonwood Pass. Your eyes should tell when it time to cut up on an angle to Cirque Peak from the PCT. Snow more than likely will be present on this slope but I have never found it a problem. The biggest issue is the bouldering you will encounter near the peak...just take your time both up and down.

For backpacking there is one trip that fits the Whitney Portal to Trail Camp profile, which many bypass, that is Angelus Oaks to Limber Bench. The only thing missing is elevation. Again, to get elevation you need a trip to the Sierra. This can be accomplished many places in the Eastern Sierra, even early in the year. My friends and I have crossed Cottonwood Pass twice in June after big winters to do Cirque and Trail Peaks. If the snow frightens you, there is a backdoor pass in the area that is easy to find with some map study. We used it after a trip to Trailmaster Peak...you will not find this one on a map, just because we did not want to go back through Cottonwood Pass.

This is not to brag. I have done this summit 7 times. Each trip was planned out to insure my friends and reached the summit when we wanted to. We were always in good but not great shape. You do not need to be in great shape but it helps for the a day hike.

To Mt. Whitney First Timers 2020...The Crampons, Ice Axe and Helmet Spring

2020-02-13T09:58:00.002-08:00

Not the trail...the road to Whitney Portal 4/05

You have entered the Main Mount Whitney Trail Lottery and you are a winner!!! However, you are a winner for May 15th. Hmmmm...there is no snow on Mt. Baldy; therefore, there is no snow on Mt. Whitney, right? NO!!!!! There is a ton of snow on the north chutes at 12,000' to 13,600' even in a low snow year like this one might be. HAVE YOU GIVEN THIS ANY THOUGHT? If you have, chances are you have been gathering skills, clothing and gear this winter, if you have not, you may end up being a statistic. With that said, you still have time to gain some basic skills, gear and clothing.

Going this time of year is for backpackers, not day hikers. You have to carry way to much of this and that and deal with snow in places you will not see it any other time of year. The trail is not the safest route up and the area above Mirror Lake in the dark is downright dangerous on the way down, if this is your first time in this area. Hmmm...you could go now and explore up to Trail Camp on a pair of snowshoes for the most part. Been there done that many times. It is a blast. This puts way ahead of the game. Spend the night at Lone Pine Campground with enough firewood and beer; and take your meals in town.

There most likely plenty of slots available for basic skills course up in Bishop, if you want gain these skills from an experienced guide rather than the You Tube School of Mountaineering. This is a commitment on your part but what is your life worth? Yes, your life is at risk up here. People have died on the Chute glissading into the rock band utilizing trekking poles as a break.

Locally, there is enough snow on the north chutes of San Gorgonio to get a lot of practice in before your trip...including the six mile walk out to it but this requires a a commitment and eschew going to summits on your part. That is the cost of getting Mt. Whitney in the spring safely. Safely being the key word.

Good luck. I have been on the summit of Mt. Whitney 7 times, this is trip I liked the most.

Too Many Don't Know, What They Don't Know

2020-02-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

A very difficult day in the SGW

This is our biggest safety problem in our mountains today.

There are some very smart people who going in our very dangerous winter mountains without a scintilla of research about where they are going. Most of the research is hmmmm....there is no snow on Cucamonga Peak as they look upon it from Ontario Airport. Then, they are shocked there is snow at 6,200' in Ice House Canyon and you need ice axe and crampons to even think about continuing their "planned" destination.

One of my sayings is winter is not summer only colder. This mean, if something happens in winter and you get stuck out, you are liable to come out of it winter cold related injuries at best or die of exposure like a guy did a few years ago on the north side of Mt. Harwood. But hey, it is really cool to be out there with a pair of shorts and tennis shoes. Maybe I can walk in circles in the snow while I wait for 40 King to hoist me off Timber Mountain on a freezing Friday evening.

It is not like all the warnings are out there. When someone dies in our mountains wearing spikes. There is a television news reporter, usually female, with a pair of 10 point crampons on a pair of fashionable boots on either Mt. Baldy Road or Angeles Crest Highway telling the public this is what gear they need to have on their feet, ice axe, helmet and winter training not included.

Some who see this run right out and buy the gear and head to their favorite mountain put on crampons on the wrong feet, don't tighten them enough, don't bring an axe, which was not mentioned and start to climb. Or the buy 12 point semi automatic crampons and start asking their partners for some duct tape to affix them to their feet.

When the experienced carrying 20 odd pounds of stuff tell the unprepared; they are unprepared. They blow them off because they know better. Too many of the know betters have been hoist lifted off our mountains, too many of the know betters are in Forest Lawn or still on Mt. Baldy somewhere. However, many of these people figure it out before any of this and become evangelistic converts to mountain safety and speak up to the people they once were. They tell people I have been hoist lifted, I have carted off Baldy Bowl and I have spent time in the hospital...I was geared just like you!!!

There are not any climbing rangers...none nada, and winter Forest Service Volunteers are few and far between and clustered in a couple of areas. Therefore, it is up to you to educated those who do not want to be educated or you can spend your time screaming at people...GET OUT OF MY F.....G LINE!!! My friends and I have said those exact words to people with trailrunners with aluminum crampons on their feet walking their dog up a route...notice I did not mention either axe or poles. Hey, it is your life. If you want to be the bowling pin, don't do a damn thing. I choose not to.

ABOUT THE PICTURE: We were in the process of climbing and went a bit to far with snowshoes on. We had to hack out platforms, anchor our selves and our packs to put fangs on. Once we reached our destination we decided to reroute because it was too dangerous. We whipped out our handy dandy 7.5' quad and figured out an alternative route. Winter requires these and many more skills...skills you do not learn online or at a $250 basic skills course.

The Yak Route Mentality

2020-02-04T08:47:00.003-08:00

Taking the long way home

You buy $600 mountaineering boots, $200 crampons, $80 helmet, spend $250 for a basic skills class then erode those basic skills by doing the same thing over and over. That being taking trails to glamour summits or "climbing" the beaten in route to the same summit or any summit for that matter. The one thing missing here in the purchased stuff are maps and the ability to read them, so the world opens up to you. As your skills erode, you will lose the ability to reroute because it will be above your less than basic skill level.

I don't mind going up the yak route when I have to; however, I rarely will descend one. They are dangerous. I much prefer the laborious plunge stepping in knee deep snow. Yes, you will beat me down in most cases but I will be taking a route you do not know and I will be honing skills as I do it. I will not be doing a rerun of the piolet march to the summit.

Saturday, I was practicing...not self arrest and belay. I could have taken the yak route to my destination and back, both would have been a lot easier and both would have been less fun and challenging. The route I took both up and down were route I discovered by reading a 7.5' quad map...nothing more and nothing particularly special. These are in essence exercise routes to me...the descending route does provide some challenge in one spot depending on snow conditions.

Ascending, I picked a point where I wanted to end up. This route would allow me to kick in, traverse, French step and read snow...also bang out snow that was sticking to my anti-balling plates. This is practice just as much as practicing arrest and belay. Since I was solo, I did not choose to do a route I had never done...that is an internal rule.

Descending, I had 3 choices. I picked the most most difficult. The one I was going to take was thin at the top and the top is its most dangerous area. I did not believe I could belay; therefore, I choose my Plan B, which I had not taken in about 5 years. I figured it would be a fast plunge step down to the trail...ah no! I was up to my crotch in snow very quickly. This slowed everything down. Then came the holes from heated up trees and rocks. I prayed for weight bearing crust; however, when I found crust, snow gathered on the bottom of my balling plates. Now, Lord get me to the bottom. This is no stinking fun. However, this was practice. I had to stay away from rock outcrops to minimize falling into to a hole and keeping my pace slow, so I would not pitch forward when I did hit a hole. You will get this experience on a yak route. This is where you learn about both you and your gear...not going to Mt. Baldy for 978th time up the Ski Hut Trail or the Zeke Route through the Bowl.

Buy yourself some map, plan a route and go. Chance are you will need that map to reroute your ascent or descent. You will need it to convince your group this is the safer way to go. Gaia or All trails on a 15 square inch screen is no match for for a 6 square foot paper map.

How do you get better, if it is always the same time and the same place?

To Winter First Timers 2019-20...Who Needs No Stinking Gaiters!

2020-01-31T10:00:00.001-08:00

Hard pack and gaiters on Charlton Peak

Let's get this out of the way...I hate gaiters, especially when the temperatures are warm. I do not put them on until they need to be put on...except on very cold days. People coming to winter in recent years do not have a clue how and when to use gaiters. On top of that they buy the cheapest, not inexpensive, crap available in the known universe.

The question is why gaiters?

They are used for two reasons...to keep snow out of your boots thus protect you from wet cold feet...that is if you invested in Gore-Tex boots or socks, and protect your legs from puncture wounds and your expensive winter pants from damage. It is not unusual today to see people without gaiters.

I have a friend who goes through gaiters like I go through underwear. This has to with stride. He catches them up at the top and once puncture the tear goes right down to the seam above the ankle. Without gaiters, that more than likely a leg laceration. My stride cause me to puncture pants above the gaiter and just above the seam. Gaiters protect my ankles from puncture wounds above the boot. My gaiters did not wear out, they punctured out. I was repairing the repairs...yes, gaiters can be repaired and it is rather simple...masking tape and Aqua Seal will normally do the trick.

Put your gaiters on whenever you put crampons on...same goes for your helmet, and you will minimize damage to pants but more importantly...serious injury especially on marginal day and when you are well off the railroad tracks.

ABOUT THE PICTURE: This was taken on our down from climbing Charlton Peak. There was not a need for gaiters because of conditions, it was firm and fast. They were used for wound protections. If anyone was seriously injured we were 6 miles and 4 plus hours from our cars.

You Are the First Responders

2020-01-28T09:05:00.000-08:00

Baldy Bowl two days after an air rescue January 2017

On Martin Luther King's Birthday in 2019 a bunch of private citizens gathered around an injured experienced hiker in Baldy Bowl tending to his injuries after he fell while climbing with light traction devices and poles. 17 hours later this hiker finally made it to Mt. Baldy Rd. This hiker was extremely lucky in a couple ways. The people around were willing to help...and believe me from experience this is not always the case, and two West Valley Search and Rescue Volunteers were out that day climbing the Bowl for fun. It is not unusual that the untrained public are the first people on the scene. Hopefully, they are prepared.

Backcountry travel is made more safe by people being prepared. However, today, too many go out with less than is required...many of these people carry less than most everything and are counting on you, the prepared, to take care of their needs when things go sideways. Thank God for you!! And thank you for your service.

It has always been, up until recently, there was an understanding that hiking was a mutual aid society. That, unfortunately is no longer the case. Many of people lie injured on the trails as people walk over and around them as they try to get 1/6 of a piece of pie. I, sadly, say this from experience. A few years ago on Mt. Baden-Powell two friends and I were hiking the trail when a guy, came up to us and said there was a hiker down on the trail higher...it ended up being 45 minutes higher...over a 1,000' higher. When we got there he was still on the trail. During the time we attended him only one person asked about the situation...a LA Co. EMT. We all came to the same conclusion based on the facts. The strickened hiker had become dehydrated. We gave the subject water and electrolyte replacements and got him moving...a few steps with him roped up and all three of us aiding his descent. Eventually, our subject was able to move on his own and reached the trailhead on his own but not without an airship dropping an EMT for assessment. A couple of people in his party called in the cavalry.

So, what do you do when someone is in distress...

Ask if your assistance is needed, do not dive in
Ask if the subject has a first aid kit. Use it before you use yours
If they need any medication, let them administer it from their own cache. Do not give any of your medications, especially prescription opioids
Enlist others to help
If required, get Search and Rescue or aviation assets involved
Do not put yourself at risk

On item #5. In this day the age of the smart phone, you should have an app like Gaia on and know how to a waypoint...mark the place you are, in either LONG/LAT or UTM. Having this information will get help directed to you quickly. If you do not have this, the best you can offer the emergency operator is I am approximately 1 mile below the Ski Hut on the Baldy Bowl Trail. If you are carrying a PLB, activate it, if you deem it necessary.

Most assists will be dehydration and sprained ankles. The former is just a matter of watering the flower and getting them moving; the latter can be just helping them down the trail...slowly. My trekking poles have been used by others to assist them down a trail...as much as 4 miles.

Finally, more and more dogs are being carried down the trails. They are taken to places that just chew up their pads. This involves a few people taking turns throwing the dog over their shoulders. Do not take Fido on a hike in a new area or out in extreme heat. There is no excuse for a dog to overheat. Dogs will always try to please their owners.

Tramspiking?

2020-01-26T09:16:00.000-08:00

Taking a break somewhere in Tamarack Valley on a 3 peak day

To move in the higher mountains you need the gear for it. In Mt. San Jacinto State Park this means snowshoes. It's been that way forever. I have been on the first tram car a couple of dozen times with adventurous ideas many, if not most did not included going to the peak, which is easily gotten to on a short direct route, not through Wellman's Divide. Everyone in these cars had skis, snowboards or snowshoes as their prime gear...NOT SPIKES. Hell, I always leave that junk at home for a trip here.

The trip to Wellman's Divide is still best done on snowshoes not spikes and poles. Yet, more and more people are going that way post holing as far as they can get before energy fails them. For reason known only to them, they do not see any value in snowshoes. Along with learning anything about land navigation or winter in general. They want only the cookie and they want it their way, which immeasurably harder.

The one thing about Mt. San Jacinto State Park is there are not a heck of a lot of visual keys. I have had problems here and make more land nav mistakes than anywhere else I go but nowhere near as many as the unprepared. We regularly take the secret sauce route to the summit...which isn't all that secret and can be easily figured out with map study, something most forego. We have variations off of this route to take into account heavy snow and the other summits we will go to. My friends and acquaintances who end up on the summit a lot more than I do find people wandering up these paths without a clue of where they in the dead of winter and during blizzard conditions. When asked where they are...they reply the trail, which is more than a mile south of their position in some cases.

People have gotten lost up here a lot. A handful of years ago during full on blizzard, a friend asked a solo cross country skier, "Where are you going?", the reply..."Only God knows." Well, Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit did not know where he was after couple of days they fruitlessly searched for him in these very trying conditions. As this man skied, unknowingly, down to the lower plateau, where he was eventually had Air Uber take him down to the press waiting in the parking lot, where he emerged with his goggles on to mask his identity for the television cameras. If this were to happen to an unprepared tramspiker, it would not have been a rescue. This man was a skilled mountaineer who had safety gear, clothing and skills and barely got out.

If you want a total and safer experience on this mountain learn land navigation and buy a pair of very expensive snowshoes, this is a mountaineering experience. Hint...if you point your compass slightly northeast you will end up somewhere near the Mountain Station but what is the fun in that.

ABOUT THE PICTURE: This a trip with the usual suspects. All prepared for a rotten day, which came as we were climbing to Jean Peak, about 30 minutes later. Just because it sunny and forecast call for sweetness and light does not mean Mother Nature will cooperate. This was one of those days.

A couple of hours later in worsening conditions

Do You Want Something Completely Different...Schulman Grove in Spring

2020-01-23T08:55:00.000-08:00

Hiking up the road from Sierra View

Too many years ago, my wife and I ventured up White Mountain Road in April/May time frame with a pack and snowshoes with absolutely no expectations. We got to Sierra View and took off up the road on foot made a turn and there was snow...lot'sa snow. We put on the snowshoes and headed for new visitors center, which eventually burnt down. It was a great trip.

Fast forward, about 3 to 4 years, my usual partner in crime and headed up there for a weekend of fun and games in May. We did the same thing and took off in the same direction discovering many things I had never seen, like mine adits, which must have been built with 2,500 to 4,000 year old timbers...since this is the home the earth's older living thing. We wandered around the area for hours.

Looking back at the Sierra from south of the road

Our biggest problem was we ran out of beer. Something we could not live without and cut our trip up here a day short.

Obviously, this trip takes some planning...the base of operations is Grandview Campground and it is water-free. Therefore, you will have to bring a lot of water...and more beer than you think you need. You cannot count on either CalTrans or Inyo National Forest to provide you with an accurate road conditions report...INF had the road closed and the snow depth much higher than it actually was. You should have a plan A-1 in your back pocket. The Sierra has no plan Bs.

Once of the things I have always liked about the White's over the Sierra's is you can get a 200 miles absolutely unbelievable view of the Sierra. Unlike the summer, it is crystal clear this time of year.

This is a fairly easy trip, except for the being over 10,000' the whole time.

A mine opening visible from the road

Trying to do arrest practice...we took axes.

To Winter First Timers 2019-20...Figuring Out Mt. Baldy

2020-01-20T11:48:00.000-08:00

Let's get this out of the way...I have not been on the summit of Mt. Baldy in winter since 12/2014. The primary reason I do not believe it is safe on weekends in winter. This the only time available to me. I am not the only experienced person who feels this way. This past weekend I ran into couple of people I know, who said the same thing and for the same reasons. Mt. Baldy is dangerous on the weekends because of the people who populate it, not the mountain itself. They all have enough experience to figure out conditions and know when situations are go/no go.

I have been to Mt. Baldy in winter many times, mostly via the Ski Hut Trail way back when very few who went up there. I had a mentor take me to the Bowl for the first time, who had climbed it many times and went up a route few use. On the way down someone with crampons on and their axe in a position I had never seen and have never since went by us and shouted, "Am I doing this right?" Our response..."NO!!!". Right then and there, I knew this was a sh.. show. Which I did not have to go back to on a weekend. I have on been back there a few times with the intent of reaching the summit. In December 2014, the last time I went to the summit, I had a woman fall and go me at about 35 mph. I thought I had witnessed a death. This killed any desire to climb here on weekends, ever again.

To me, Mt. Baldy offers very little challenge through the Bowl. It is a straight forward poilet march. However, you style maybe diametrically different than might. I like to navigational problems, changes in terrain, changes in gear, etc. I want to use my brain move than my physical talents.

This gets that stuff out of the way. As you can see, I am not a Mt. Baldy fan boy.

Since most of you are new to winter I will concentrate on the the most deadly parts of Mt. Baldy...the trails. Yes, most deaths occur when people fall off trails, not fall during climbs or avalanches in the Bowl. All of these people had spikes and poles or less with one exception. The one exception was an experienced climber, who made a cardinal red letter mistake...he went out on a cornice and collapsed it.

Here goes...

Bear Canyon Trail...This is the least used trail in winter because it is the longest and there is a lack of parking in Mt. Baldy Village. It is an absolutely gorgeous trail in winter but it is also deadly. I know of two deaths associated with this trail, the one in December 2019 and one more than a decade ago when a well respected local mountaineer fell off the trail with his safety gear still strapped to his pack. This trail has exposed area and cornices build over its ridges. It is not unusual to see photos of people crossing these corniced areas.

Ski Hut Trail...Welcome to the land of the lost. This is where most of the SAR mission occur. When winter storms cover the confidence posts located between 8,800' and 9,500' people walk into Good Canyon and just keep going until their gear will not allow them to climb back to the trail. The other area where people get lost is down in San Antonio Canyon when the fail to pick up the Ski Hut when descending. They, too, descend until the gear will not allow them to climb back to the trail. This trail has at least 4 deaths associated with it. Two people reached the summit in poor conditions and walked off the north side into oblivion. Another died of exposure on the north side after going out in a rain storm without proper clothing for conditions. Another death was on the trail itself when someone fell from it, recovered and fell a second time. The trail has avalanche chutes all along its route.

The Devil's Backbone Trail...More like the Devil's Graveyard. The deaths and rescues here are too numerous to go over one by one. People fall off ridges and end up in either Stockton Flat or down the south side chutes and in one case collapse a cornice. This area's clientele is mostly the inexperienced. The experienced stay away for the most part. Before you consider heading up here, consider why do experienced stay away and the inexperience flock here? Do the experience know something about this area? Ya, think.

The Bowl...If you have paid the piper, bought all the protective gear and took lessons from a guide service...not the You Tube School of Mountaineering, do not go to the Bowl directly. There are better places to climb safely and learn. Gather up some maps and figure that out on your own like my friends and I did. That is what winter is about...exploration and if have not heard it before, exploration starts at home with planning. I did not go to the Bowl to climb until I had an more advanced skill set and had finished out my gear cache. Then, I went with someone who knew the Bowl, whom I trusted. The has had deaths, I just cannot remember any incidents that stand out in my mind but it has more than its share of hoist lifts and 14 to18 hour SAR mission haul people back to Mt. Baldy Rd.

Winter is about safety, period end of sentence. Your safety but just as importantly the safety of others you put at risk when go out without a clue. Most do not know what they don't know...which includes most of the dead on this mountain. The one skill you must learn quickly is risk management...your life depends on it.

Why are People Resistant to Snowshoes?

2020-01-15T09:19:00.000-08:00

My latest and greatest

In 1998, I bought my first pair of snowshoes. I now have 4 pairs in my closet all perfectly good, all very good quality. I did not know anything about snowshoeing or where to go snowshoeing when I purchasing them late in the 1997-98 winter season. However, I learned quickly in 1999-2000...'98-'99 was wiped out by family issues in the east.

As someone who likes to find out how things worked, I pushed these shoes to the max. I found out very quickly what you could and could not do with these things. This satisfied me for a while, especially when my wife was going out every weekend with me. Eventually, we would buy a couple of pairs of Grivel G10 crampons to aid in getting over ice to get to the snowshoeing areas. Microspikes were not available or I was not aware of their availability. Now, I am into this for $460 per person...not including Gore-Tex mid-weight backpacking boots. Today, this is $320 + 70 for Microspikes; therefore, the cost of entry is less but still more than a pair of spikes.

People today want to get to peaks...back in 2000 all I wanted to was get to Round Valley Tramshoeing and South Fork Meadow in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The two premiere snowshoeing areas in SoCal. There are few peaks that lend themselves to snowshoes. San Jacinto being one, Mt. Pinos being another. I have been to others but there is a long way in before snowshoes get strapped to your feet. Many of them require mountaineering gear at least part of the way.

Of the six original Six Pack of Peaks, the only one that lends itself to primarily snowshoeing is Mt. San Jacinto. I have been up all the trails/routes with the exception Mt. Wilson in winter. Therefore, those whom the Six Pack is the only thing will not see value in snowshoes. They are more into forcing substandard gear to meet their primary requirement...being on these summits, not personal safety nor the safety of first responders.

Most seem resistant to learn what they need to know about winter to do it safely. Most want to buy the cheapest gear available, which is more expensive in the long run, to get to places which they themselves and others at risk. The alternative is going around a pair of 8" x 25" snowshoes for a season or two learning things not only about winter but mostly about yourself. The kicker here is, if you are going to do winter safely, you are going to need a pair of snowshoes to get various places you want to go. For instance, we needed snowshoes to get to but especially to get back from a climb on a icy route. If we did not have snowshoes we would have been forced to take a route that would have left us without our cars because we would have exited on the opposite side of the mountain and would had to walk a long way once down to get cell service to call a wifey to get a ride back to our car...and no one wants to deal with an angry relative.

I have two pairs of snowshoe that I want to get rid of 9" x 25" that are better than all the cheap things available from the Costco Mountaineering Shop and at a lower price. They will work for most any trip and will give you time to invest in those pictured above. They are great for someone on the fence who does not want to invest in a pair of top of the line mountaineer snowshoes.

Disturbing Trends in Winter...Three Rescues In San Antonio Canyon

2020-01-14T08:57:00.002-08:00

Most of this was written prior to my finding out about the rescues in San Antonio Canyon Friday and Sunday. It is mostly about my trip up Ice House Canyon Saturday and trends in hiking...not winter mountaineering.

Back in the days of crampons and axe or no go. A handful of people ventured out with less than that. On day while I was taking off my crampons at the end of icy descent, I watched a guy literally do a face glissade down the waterfall at the top of Ice House Canyon. When he came over to me, I said to him, "You need these." pointing to my axe and crampons. He said, "I do." pointing to his poles and and Yaktrax. I finished the conversation with, "How's that working for you?". He was oblivious to what caused his fall and his inability to stop it.

Fast forward to this season, I have seen many come up trails with no poles, no spikes or both. Wearing their finest Vans and shorts, like Saturday. When I pointed out you need mountaineering gear to someone attired in that manner, he said "I have been up here 5 times." It is difficult arguing with that logic or lack thereof, so I did not. Later in the day, during my descent, after I watched a woman struggle through the slide area, which wiped out 30' to 50', with spikes and poles, I said the same thing to her. The reaction was, "My leader said this is all I need." My response was, "Most everyone who has been injured or died up here has been geared exactly like you". Now to most surreal response I have ever had in the mountains, "Don't tell me the true, I do not want to hear it."

Friday and Sunday's rescues were of people just like these. You see them on the trails every weekend. Many of you have said things to them, many of you have heard these responses...along the ubiquitous I pay my taxes; therefore, I am entitled to a free helicopter ride.

These attitudes are causing more and more Search and Rescues both on foot and by air in our region, attested to by a fairly recent LA Times story. These people were deficient in every area, including clothing and survival skills. If hurt they expect you, to take care of them...a truthful and aware trailrunner or two said that to me, and provide them clothing as they wait for SAR or aviation to take them to safety.

To the many out there out there who are out there with this attitude...I have enough clothing for me to stand under a helicopter and not much more. I will not put myself at risk for anyone. This is not to say I will not give you aid but only aid where I am not put in jeopardy. If you fall off the trail, I will come down for you, if it is within my skill level and gear I have, which about 90% more than my my winter traveling cohort on any given Saturday.

My attitude sounds harsh. Well, I am not search and rescue. I do not prepare like search and rescue. I prepare for my survival, if something goes wrong I can spend the night without issue. Not light the guy who was rescued Friday night wandering around with tennis shoes on...I may have seen his tracks Saturday. They were in an off the grid area, his path was aimless and at times in circles. This was around 8,000' in an area a friend and I saved at guy from walking off a cliff.

Most mistakes made in the mountains are rooted in the home. Think before you walk out the door. When you are out be a leader. However, to be a leader you must have at minimum a basic winter skills package and gear beyond junk.

Understanding How Feet, Boots and Trail Shoe Work

2020-01-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

Very new La Sportiva Trango EVO in 2007

When people ask about hiking footwear recommendations, most everyone say mine are great and you should buy them. Me, not so much. I sold shoes for 7 years and know how they are built.

Let's get quash one of the shoe myths. X companies shoes do not work for me. Maybe. Shoes are made on lasts...wooden forms. Each company has different lasts within their line of footwear. Some will be short, narrow, wide and long; therefore, you cannot write off shoes from a company simply because of one shoe. With that said, some company's last fit your unique foot better than other companies, for me this is Salomon, La Sportiva and Zamberlan plus I have a very old pair of Kayland Contacts, which I will eventually resole.. My unique feet are 12 1/2 C-D, left and 12 D right with a Morgan Toes...my second toe is longer than my big toe. I have a lot of fun finding something that fits.

View your footwear as tools. Each tool has its place. I own over $1,000.00 of footwear for backcountry travel. I choose quality rather than price point. Add it to the the price of insoles that minimize my Morton's Neuroma, about twice the price of Superfeet.

I use Salomon Speedcross 4's for trail walking. They are lightweight have a nice grippy sole and they last 400 miles. The weakness in the EVA mid-sole, like most inexpensive footwear and running shoes in particular. They will get mushy before the sole wears out. They end up costing a lot more than my Zamberlans, when you figure I have to buy a pair a year.

Zamberlan is not the most recognizable name in footwear but their Italian made offerings are second to none. The reason I bought these rather than Keens, Merrills or Vasques was the shank, which offer more support and they work fairly well with my ancient G10 beater crampons, something lightweight hikers do not do. I have my lightweight shoes covered with Speedcross 4s.

The problem with lightweight hikers and crampons is they are too flexible for traversing, a fundamental winter skill. Crampons have a tendency to fall off this type of footwear, which totally unsuited for winter tasks; such as, traversing and kicking in. The higher you go up in the shoe food chain you will realize you were using the wrong tool for the job.

I use the La Sportiva's for winter mountaineering. They offer a stiff platform the ability to use either hybrid or clip in crampons. They are best for traversing and kicking in while climbing. Lighweight footwear will neither give you the stiffness to traverse nor a strong enough toe box to kick in. Once you use this combination it is hard to go back. Their biggest draw back is weight. They are flat out heavy and can be uncomfortable on a long day.

I hope this helps you select the hiking footwear...YOU NEED.