San Bernardino peak

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Had a nice day with Sally going up the San Bernardino peak trail to west SB peak yesterday. We diverted from the trail below the wooden bench and headed up the left side of the ridge. There's more snow there than when Don and Danny went up on Sunday and the snow was softer due to warmer weather, so snowshoes were essential to avoid post holing. It was brisk up top with a breeze, so we didn't dally too long.

We retraced our path down, which was a blast. Reminded me of coming down the Miller Saddle when there's adequate snow. Only downside of the day -- I left my snow gloves on the trail when we removed our snowshoes. With the new storm coming in this weekend, I doubt there will be any trace of our snowshoe track.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Sally]

Yep, we brought the right equipment this time.

I was feeling like a real weenie, huffin'and puffin' up that hill. Coming back down I could see why I was so winded. For some reason, to me it always looks steeper going down than going up.

Thanks for a splendid day, Ellen! Maybe, by some miracle, someone will find your gloves and leave them on the trailhead sign with all the other gloves. I think that gloves are the most accidently left-behind item on the trail.

[Lcpl Hughes]

I did see all the gloves tacked up..hopefully someone will find yours and put them there..that is a fun mountain to hike..Nice Job

When we were done climbing last week on the way down the 38 we were pulled over by the forest service in 2 large SUV's..it was just like a regular traffic stop by the CHP..they pulled me over cause my tow ball was blocking one of the numbers on my license plate..hmmm..looking for any reason

[Derick]

Went up today with snowshoes thinking yesterday's precip would have fallen as soft snow. Must have been freezing rain. Icy crust was thick and slippery. I was wishing I had crampons and axe, and had to self-arrest with a hiking pole after one fall. Wouldn't recommend going up without an axe and good self-arrest skills, either in snowshoes or crampons. I wouldn't try it in microspikes.

Derick

[Ellen]

Howdy Derick

Sorry the condition of the snow changed so quickly Thank goodness you're experienced and were able to self-escue.

I was on Baldy yesterday. The last system was an ice storm -- rocks, dirt trail, bushes -- EVERYTHING up high was covered in ice We went up Bear canyon and came down Register Ridge. The north facing slope of the Ski hut trail was covered in ice -- no way did we want to go down that.

I'll be carrying crampons, axe and snowshoes on my next trip into the mountains.

I like microspikes for relatively flat sections of icy trail, such as the sections from the forest to Manzanita flats on the San Bernardino peak trail.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen