Southern California Snow?

[Aukai]

Decided against Bonanza laps after seeing a cryptic warning of thin coverage on Baldy's site in the morning. Didn't have it in me to go up to Big Bear for the day. Settled on Mt High, which offered excellent MGPP snow and a very well-built park. I'm usually not much of a park rider but was many years ago, and I decided to dedicate today to reclaiming my long-lost love of airtime. Had a blast. Probably won't be back there this season (it was CROWDED for a Wednesday- they made me park on the 2! Good thing I had my annual Adventure Pass with me...), but props to them for what they've put together. Would have been even better with East open (it looks more than ready to go for the Friday opening), but I was a happy little nostalgic park rider today.

Now let's hope these storms pan out for the weekend...

 

[snowave]

I was also at MH today.. (Wed) very nice snow, indeed. Crowds were tolerable, (lift line at the quad was about 5 min avg) but I didn't come up til 3. Headwall, Catcha Later and Conquest were my picks of the day.

Another foot would be great, and probably open everything else up. Too bad East isn't opening Thursday instead of Friday. #-o

The visibility was also awesome. It was easy to see Telescope Peak in Death Valley from the top. I usually only take my camera on Powder days though. 8-[

 

[SoCal Rider]

The bros were a little slow to get out of bed, so it was really pretty un-crowded before noon.

 

[snowave]

The bros were a little slow to get out of bed, so it was really pretty un-crowded before noon.

hey, I'm up before noon today! \/


heading up in about an hour when the coffee's gone, I think.

 

[socal]

AT THIS TIME...IT LOOKS LIKE THE BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN OVER SLO/SBA COUNTIES WILL
BE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND LATE THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT
OVER VTU/LAX COUNTIES. OVERALL...WITH THIS FIRST SYSTEM...RAINFALL
AMOUNTS BETWEEN 0.25" AND 0.75" ARE EXPECTED WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS POSSIBLE IN SOME FOOTHILL AREAS. SNOW LEVELS SHOULD REMAIN
AROUND 6000 FEET OR HIGHER THROUGH FRIDAY.

FRIDAY SHOULD BE A RELATIVE LULL WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS ACROSS THE
AREA BEFORE THE NEXT SYSTEM MOVES IN ON SATURDAY. AT THIS TIME...
12Z MODELS AGREE THAT IT WILL RAIN...BUT AMOUNTS AND TIMING DIFFER
FROM MODEL TO MODEL. HOWEVER...STILL LIKE THE CURRENT FORECAST OF
0.50-1.50 INCHES FOR COASTAL AREAS TO 1.50-2.50 INCHES IN THE
FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS. WITH SUCH RAINFALL AMOUNTS...THERE COULD BE
PROBLEMS FOR THE RECENT BURN AREAS. SOUTHERLY FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS SECOND SYSTEM WILL KEEP SNOW LEVELS ABOVE 6000 FEET THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING...BEFORE THE SNOW LEVEL DROPS TO AROUND 5500 FEET
ON SUNDAY.

Some good news (a decent amount of water to fall) and some bad news in there (>6k ft snow levels). Hopefully snow levels stay around 6k or less. I'd love to get a day in next week/weekend locally.

Looking at Mammoth for the moment it looks like a lot of snow will fall but it'll come with the typical Mammoth wind. I wouldn't be surprised if nothing runs on Sat as the NWS said ridgetop winds of >100mph expected. Sunday could be a good one with cloudy skies and a few feet of new snow though.

 

[ski-the-face]

trying to decide between Saturday and Sunday. i think Sunday, my bud thinks Saturday.

 

[snowboard247]

sunday!

 

[snowave]

it's raining in Wrightwood right now, 38.

36 currently MH at 7k... so might be a close call with rain/snow. [-o< It looks like most of the heavy stuff is going north anyway. Mammoth might do better than expected with this first 'little' system.

btw, MH was fantastic today. near perfect groomers and lighter crowds made for some fun bomber runs.

 

[Tony Crocker]

From what I read snow level is going to be 7K+ Saturday, lowering that night. So Sunday is clearly the call for those considering this weekend. Big Bear is probably the call for slightly lower temps than the San Gabriels and likely less precipitation during the warmer part of the storm.

 

[Mike Bernstein]

From what I read snow level is going to be 7K+ Saturday, lowering that night. So Sunday is clearly the call for those considering this weekend. Big Bear is probably the call for slightly lower temps than the San Gabriels and likely less precipitation during the warmer part of the storm.

Is there anything on Thunder Mtn at Baldy that is worth checking out in these low tide conditions? 31 degrees right now at the Notch, so I presume most of what they receive is going to be frozen with this impulse.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Is there anything on Thunder Mtn at Baldy that is worth checking out in these low tide conditions?

Not even close IMHO. Reports from the area tend to be sketchy on the relevant details with snow total and base depths from the top of the mountain. It's an art figuring out what's happening at Baldy, I've been doing it for 30+ years and I'm nearly always surprised by something. Best (particularly in early season) is to let someone else be the guinea pig and get an eyewitness report. Garry Klassen often does this, as he has a pass and lives at the bottom of the hill in Alta Loma.

 

[Mike Bernstein]

Is there anything on Thunder Mtn at Baldy that is worth checking out in these low tide conditions?

Not even close IMHO. Reports from the area tend to be sketchy on the relevant details with snow total and base depths from the top of the mountain. It's an art figuring out what's happening at Baldy, I've been doing it for 30+ years and I'm nearly always surprised by something. Best (particularly in early season) is to let someone else be the guinea pig and get an eyewitness report. Garry Klassen often does this, as he has a pass and lives at the bottom of the hill in Alta Loma.

So until then, we've got to slum it at MH and Big Bear? If the latter, and the canyons aren't open at Bear Mtn, do you consider it worth choosing vs. Snow Summit?

 

[Tony Crocker]

The Bear canyons are rarely open, and more relevantly, when they are Baldy and Waterman rate to be better (twice as much snowfall and better fall lines).

Summit is better unless you're into the parks, which are bigger at Bear. You can ski Bear and Summit on the same ticket, riding the shuttle between the resorts. Since it's your first time, there's some value to that so you can see both mountains. Be there by 8AM on weekends to park in the lots within easy walking distance to the lifts.

 

[Mike Bernstein]

The Bear canyons are rarely open, and more relevantly, when they are Baldy and Waterman rate to be better (twice as much snowfall and better fall lines).

Summit is better unless you're into the parks, which are bigger at Bear. You can ski Bear and Summit on the same ticket, riding the shuttle between the resorts. Since it's your first time, there's some value to that so you can see both mountains. Be there by 8AM on weekends to park in the lots within easy walking distance to the lifts.

Interesting. I always figured that lapping those upper mtn runs on the central and eastern trail pods of Bear would be the ticket.

As for Waterman, I think your concerns w/r/t the ability to keep Hwy 2 open are going to prove true all winter. It's closed again now and I'm quite frankly surprised they ever opened it. Rocks coming down all over the place that could really do some damage to a passing car. It may have to be Baldy or bust this winter when it's good.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I always figured that lapping those upper mtn runs on the central and eastern trail pods of Bear would be the ticket.

Bear has a very awkward layout vs. Summit. Bear Peak has exactly one run for its 1,100 vertical and Silver two for its 900. You are forced to the congested base area in order to change trail pods. Snow Summit was smart to turn Bear into a 75% terrain park hill to increase its popularity. There's nothing very steep at Summit (or Bear either compared to Baldy) but it's easy to move from one part of the hill to another and avoid crowds. Big Bear is worth your while for early season warmups. Think Hunter Mt. with better snow.

You should be planning more on how to get to Mammoth. Today's little storm was 15 inches and most of the mountain should be open next week after the projected 4 feet this weekend. Baldy/Waterman are erratic even in the good years. They should be viewed as an occasional bonus, not the focus for an advanced SoCal skier.

 

[socal]

Quick update from mammoth, sitting in Main lodge. Yesterday was very good, no crowds and 7 inches or so new with snow coming down all day. Everything was soft and after last nights snow most rocks should be covered. Skied gravy chutes with some rocks uptop but excellent in the chute. Headed out now.

Ps, sorry for thowing this in the socal thread, ill do a tr later and start a new one.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Chairs 4 and 5 (weather permitting) at Mammoth open today for the first time this season. I would now expect everything except 9 and 14 to be open a week from now, and those chairs are possible too if the ongoing storm exceeds the predicted 4 feet.

All SoCal areas report rain/snow mix at best this morning. Baldy's website actually discourages people coming today. Mt. High East opened as planned. Snow level is still expected to drop tonight.

 

[Mike Bernstein]

I always figured that lapping those upper mtn runs on the central and eastern trail pods of Bear would be the ticket.

Bear has a very awkward layout vs. Summit. Bear Peak has exactly one run for its 1,100 vertical and Silver two for its 900. You are forced to the congested base area in order to change trail pods. Snow Summit was smart to turn Bear into a 75% terrain park hill to increase its popularity. There's nothing very steep at Summit (or Bear either compared to Baldy) but it's easy to move from one part of the hill to another and avoid crowds. Big Bear is worth your while for early season warmups. Think Hunter Mt. with better snow.

You should be planning more on how to get to Mammoth. Today's little storm was 15 inches and most of the mountain should be open next week after the projected 4 feet this weekend. Baldy/Waterman are erratic even in the good years. They should be viewed as an occasional bonus, not the focus for an advanced SoCal skier.

Mammoth is definitely the focus, but I wasn't expecting lodging to be as expensive as it appears to be. We had an optimal situation in VT where we paid an under-market rate to old family friends so we could have a "share" in their house near Sugarbush. What I'm finding is that Mammoth lodging costs more than even market rates in VT (excl perhaps Stratton or Stowe), and that's a real shock to the system. Moreover, as new arrivals to the West Coast, we don't know anyone up at Mammoth, so the friendships and apres ski situations that were such a big part of our life in VT aren't available at the outset. Also, we're temporarily on a single income here, so that limits our options somewhat.

We'll definitely get up there a few times this year (I am assiduously studying that fantastic homemade trailmap with elevations etc... that was posted to the Mammoth forums last month) , but the near-term focus is on getting out for midweek day trips to the locals in order to get my fix. As part of that process, I'm trying to understand some of the nuances about where to go under what conditions. For example, I was hoping that in the absence of a sufficient base at Baldy (I understand anything under 6' isn't worth it), would the canyons at Bear Mtn or the side country at Mt High we worth exploring? Does Waterman (if Hwy 2 opens) need more or less snow than Blady to be in play?

 

[Tony Crocker]

in the absence of a sufficient base at Baldy (I understand anything under 6' isn't worth it)

That's a bit conservative. I'd say 4 feet. I'm more gunshy during the season's first storm cycle when there's no base underneath.

would the canyons at Bear Mtn or the side country at Mt High be worth exploring?

Again, almost never. They are natural snow-dependent and get less snow than Baldy. It just doesn't work that way.

Does Waterman (if Hwy 2 opens) need more or less snow than Baldy to be in play?

Similar. I would say somewhat more because Waterman is an upside down area with the easy stuff on top. The face is 6,900 - 7,700, the Avalanche Canyon sidecountry is 6,500 - 8,000. Baldy's Thunder Mt. is 7,600 - 8,600, can be worth it even if you have to download Chair 1. Waterman is more north facing, so once the base is deep midweek powder might preserve better. The spring meltdown at Waterman is much slower than Baldy's sunny chairs 1 & 4 but parts of Thunder preserve still better with the extra elevation.

 

[snowave]

3-4" of rain at Mt. High today, with the snow level over 7k ft. Finally dropping temps and snow starting to fall now, but most of this storm is over as the colder air finally arrives. If we're lucky, maybe 3-6" overnight tonight.

Hwy 2 was shut down this evening due to numerous mudslides, etc... stranding up to 100 cars. I have no idea why they didn't close it early in anticipation of the heavy rain and something like this happening.