Met with Patrick and friends (Ty and Joe) for an early start (5 AM). We started, then immediately had to go back and put our parking permits out. Clearly, I've been hiking from the tram too much
After walking around the gate, we were immediately slipping and sliding on black ice on the road. It was a relief to get to the trail and walk on snow. We reached the hut and donned crampons. Ty and Joe headed up a route similar to the summer trail and I followed Lilbitmo up the bowl.
We were quickly enveloped in clouds/fog. We heard a voice asking us the location of the hut -- it was Hamik skiing down the bowl. He and three other hearty souls were hiking up to the summit in ski boots carrying their skiis then skiing back down to the hut. The event winner would have the fastest total time for three trips
It wasn't long before Hamik and a friend hiked past us on their second trip to the summit -- quite a humbling experience.
While following Lilbitmo's steps, I felt like I was on an eternal stairmaster going uphil into oblivion. As we ascended, the conversation decreased to a bare minimum. We finally popped out on a little saddle into blue sky and a cool breeze -- what a relief. As we made our way to the summit, the cool breeze became a gale force wind (up to 50 mph) blasting us with ice crystals. We stood (crouched actually) on top just long enough for a photo then got the heck out of there.
We headed down towards the saddle between West Baldy and Baldy and ran into a group from Cal Tech practising their winter skills. Also ran into Ty and Joe going up. Had a quick lunch out of the wind, then wound back around the top of the bowl. Lilbitmo kept looking down into coluiors for future climbing routes -- I can't even begin to guess the steepness of those chutes. I could feel my intestines clench every time I looked down into those coluiors -- especially when he pointed out "Taco Sauce" -- named for the fearless and talented San Gabriel forum administrator.
As we descended and switchbacked down into the bowl I kept having issues with snow balling up on my crampons (need to get the ABS plates). I would slip out of Patrick's tracks, which was quite unnerving. I've also realized I don't have the right boots. Lilbitmo was very patient and encouraging. We finally arrived at the hut, finished our food and settled in to wait for Ty and Joe. Hamik and his group were finished, so we had a nice chat with them. The cold and damp were oppressive and after an hour I started to shiver from lack of muscle-generated body heat.
I headed down, immediately followed the wrong track and found myself too high on the slope. I put my crampons back on to descend down to the voices I heard below me. Ty and Joe arrived at the hut shortly after I'd left, so Patrick ran down the trail looking for me. He passed below me in the fog. As I was stashing my crampons, Ty and Joe came down the trail and we descended together. Poor Patrick was waiting for us in the parking area along the main road. Fortunately, he met Kevin -- an expert on the Appalachian trail -- and had a nice chat. We all eventually regrouped and drove home in the rain. I can honestly say I've had enough of the great outdoors for a few days.
Thanks Lilbitmo for a fabulous day
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
