2009-10 SoCal Snow Thread

**capitolm94** · 01-27-2010, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by TWINS

There is a core group "locals" that put in extra time to help maintain/run the hill.Most times it involves sweep duty since there is so much sidecountry to cover.Patrol cannot take care of all of it alone.Some offer rides up the hill to the workers,feed patrol at the top of Thunder/bbq ,maintenance help during the summer,etc.
Things are fine most days/no lines.You just picked the most crowded day of the season to go up.

I put locals in quotes since I dont think they get alot of out-of-town people in general. I understand that people help out, and it seems like they could use it, particularly during the weekdays, so they should have some privileges for sure. A maze with a ski school line could help out there. I am sure it is not normally that crazy- even with the lines it was alot of fun, and Ill be sure to head back sometime in the future.

**Viva** · 01-27-2010, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Tin Woodsman

Word on the Mt. Waterman website has them opening Friday for the first time this year. Anyone looking to carpool? I'm interested in trying out the newly deforested Avalanche bowl.

1-27-2010 - 2pm - Good Afternoon from Mt Waterman. We have a solid 4-6 foot base and we have picked up 4-5 inches of new snow this week. Unfortunatly we do not have a road to get to the Ski Area as it is buried under 6 feet of snow from the 6000 foot sign up to the ski area parking lot. At this point we can confirm we will NOT be opening this weekend. Keep checking with us as we will give you updates as we get them from Cal Trans. Pray for Snow and a Road!

**noflyzone_allstars** · 01-27-2010, 04:58 PM

Not a whole lot to add except a few photos from Saturday. Definitely the most crowded I have ever seen it, probably the best coverage (though not the deepest or softest we've had there) and not even close to the scariest drive (though the 40 minute wait to get through the chain check at the bottom sucked)

I have reservations for Friday and plans to poke around some neighboring canyons if anyone is interested - send me an email.

A bunch of whoomphs heard here and some shallow slides observed in a few places.

Catching the 40 minute window of powder on sunny slopes

Classic Baldy scenery

Bowl looking fat

Close-up

All in all a great day of snowplay

**srface_hoar** · 01-27-2010, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by TWINS

There is a core group "locals" that put in extra time to help maintain/run the hill.Most times it involves sweep duty since there is so much sidecountry to cover.Patrol cannot take care of all of it alone.Some offer rides up the hill to the workers,feed patrol at the top of Thunder/bbq ,maintenance help during the summer,etc.
Things are fine most days/no lines.You just picked the most crowded day of the season to go up.

I love how on powder days this core group of "locals" helps ski patrol do their control work. While I certainly respect the Baldy Patrol and their skill sets, watching "locals" do control work with the patrol hooting and holaring all the way down without beacons, shovels, or probes let alone any knowledge is insulting to a customer sitting at the bottom watching. Why don't they just call it like it is "local" privileges.

I love watching a "local" ski right above the lift line at the bottom of #1 while he supposed to be ski cutting. Neither he nor his partner had a beacon, probe or shovel.

**KillerMonkey** · 01-27-2010, 10:41 PM

So how does baldy and mt. high compare big bear and snow summit? Is it worth it to take the extra hour trip to summit/bear than to just goto baldy, or mt. high from the LA area? I spent the last weekend at the bear but getting up there was pretty unbearable (pun intended) with the conditions and traffic but the snow was def pretty good. Might as well have gone to mammoth for how long that took. But yeah, what are the opinions?

**Tin Woodsman** · 01-28-2010, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by KillerMonkey

So how does baldy and mt. high compare big bear and snow summit? Is it worth it to take the extra hour trip to summit/bear than to just goto baldy, or mt. high from the LA area? I spent the last weekend at the bear but getting up there was pretty unbearable (pun intended) with the conditions and traffic but the snow was def pretty good. Might as well have gone to mammoth for how long that took. But yeah, what are the opinions?

Granted I'm a new guy, but I don't see any reason to leave the San Gabriels other than when it's early season an early season jones or crappy mid-season and the Big Bear resorts have the snowmaking advantage. Baldy and Waterman are far better for your avg TGR member than Big Bear, and Mtn High has enough to keep you interested assuming even decent conditions. I'm not sure the extra hour is really worth it in most cases, but that's just me.

**davieboot** · 01-28-2010, 10:04 PM

Any been to Baldy the past couple days? Is the snow holding up on the north aspects? Is it corning up at all on the south aspects? I think I am heading up on Saturday.

**1000-oaks** · 01-28-2010, 10:10 PM

I suspect it'll be frozen cement or wet cement as the days warm up, takes a while to turn into corn. I have reservations at Baldy for Sat, but don't know if I'l be able to make it.

**TWINS** · 01-28-2010, 10:12 PM

Baldy was quiet and good today.

Top of Thunder.The Crows nest is now dug out.

Big Tim in SouthBowl.

Barmy in SouthBowl.

Telegraph Peak.

Sidecountry off Chair 4 looking towards Thunder Mountain.

Sidecountry off chair 4 to the lot.This was the last run of the day,around 4.P.M.

Fun times at the hill today.

**davieboot** · 01-28-2010, 10:24 PM

It looks semi-soft still (at least in South bowl). Was the final lap sun-softened? Mucky?

**TWINS** · 01-28-2010, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by davieboot

It looks semi-soft still (at least in South bowl). Was the final lap sun-softened? Mucky?

Yes and yes.
Mashed potatoes,death cookies and the ocassional sweet semicorn.

**Hayduke** · 01-29-2010, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by TWINS

[
Big Tim in SouthBowl.

But what did Big Tim have in his backpack? The world's best Mergerita perhaps?

**406** · 01-29-2010, 01:23 PM

nice photos guys, still looks fun. Surprised the lot had that many cars in it midweek. Going to be another crazy busy weekend.

If anyone is planning on canceling a reservation on Sunday, pm me and I will try and get it shortly after you cancel...thanks.

**Big Tim** · 01-29-2010, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Hayduke

But what did Big Tim have in his backpack? The world's best Mergerita perhaps?

But of course........

Hayduke ya gotta come back and visit. I'm at the store in Hollywood now on Sunset.

BT

**1000-oaks** · 01-31-2010, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by 406

If anyone is planning on canceling a reservation on Sunday, pm me and I will try and get it shortly after you cancel...thanks.

I was just able to get a res for tomorrow, maybe it won't be packed.

**whyturn** · 01-31-2010, 01:10 PM

Went on Friday, not bad once you got past the ticket window. South bowl to the road was still nice in some spots. But, due to snowplay and gapers, the secret is out on weekends.
Oh and $50 season pass is cool, but they must have sold 10000

**1000-oaks** · 01-31-2010, 01:33 PM

I would have called you WT, but I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it and it'll be the first day of the season. I'll be pathetic for sure. Trying to head out in the next 30 minutes.

**Long duc dong** · 01-31-2010, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by KillerMonkey

So how does baldy and mt. high compare big bear and snow summit? Is it worth it to take the extra hour trip to summit/bear than to just goto baldy, or mt. high from the LA area? I spent the last weekend at the bear but getting up there was pretty unbearable (pun intended) with the conditions and traffic but the snow was def pretty good. Might as well have gone to mammoth for how long that took. But yeah, what are the opinions?

Baldy has legit terrain, when there is snow. Bear and summit do not. Baldy/Waterman are definitely the way to go.

**flatlander420** · 01-31-2010, 07:37 PM

1.31.10 Wrightwoood

**KillerMonkey** · 01-31-2010, 07:58 PM

Aight thanks for the info. Will try to def hit up baldy this weekend before the snow gets any worse.

**1000-oaks** · 02-01-2010, 02:18 AM

Damn, that was BP? Snow looks a whole lot better than the refrozen chopped mank at Baldy today, for once I had little desire to leave the groomers.

How was the snowplayer traffic?

**flatlander420** · 02-01-2010, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by 1000-oaks

Damn, that was BP? Snow looks a whole lot better than the refrozen chopped mank at Baldy today, for once I had little desire to leave the groomers.

How was the snowplayer traffic?

Snowplayers were out in force after about 10 am. Before that we were the only ones up there. The snow was real nice, pow in the shade and corn in the sun.

**sqpal2000** · 02-01-2010, 06:07 PM

The storms this week should bring some nice icing to a pretty good base at Baldy. Went on Friday and it wasn't bad for a couple of days after snowfall. Definitely had to pick your spots though.

Does anyone know if the road to Waterman opened up at all? Are they open?

**Tin Woodsman** · 02-01-2010, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by sqpal2000

The storms this week should bring some nice icing to a pretty good base at Baldy. Went on Friday and it wasn't bad for a couple of days after snowfall. Definitely had to pick your spots though.

Does anyone know if the road to Waterman opened up at all? Are they open?

Website said this:

Originally Posted by Mt. Waterman

1-31-2010 - 6am - Good Morning from Mt Waterman. We have a solid 4-5 foot base, unfortunately we do not have a road to get to the Ski Area as it is buried under 4-5 feet of snow from the 6000 foot sign up to the ski area parking lot. At this point we can confirm we will NOT be opening this weekend. Keep checking with us as we will give you updates as we get them from Cal Trans. Pray for Snow and a Road!