Upper South Ridge  Easy Snow

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Type:  Snow FA:  Season:  Winter Submitted By:  Chris Owen on Feb 19, 2013 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (2) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

Sara Susca on the crest of the ridge.

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Description 

This is the ridge as climbed from the Baldy Ski Hut - so approach the route from the hut after hiking via the Manker Flats Trailhead.

Start early. Park at the gate by the Falls Road left of the Mount Baldy Road, leave room for access! Hike up Falls Road to the Falls, make a hairpin right and continue to follow the road 'till around a left bend, on the left bank there's a trail through the scree, follow this up then left to the shoulder of the ridge. The trail gets better, follow it all the way to the Sierra Club Hut and a well earned rest. About 2.5 miles and 2000 ft. May be tricky to follow in a big snow year, but there's usually a beaten track.

From the hut follow the rough trail/snow track which traverses around the bottom of the bowl towards the low spot on the ridge, in good winter conditions a pleasant snow track will switchback up to the col, or you can take more direct lines to the right. From the col head up the 40 degree slope to the crest of the ridge, which is broad and has a distinct depression/ditch which is followed to the upper gradual slopes leading to the summit.

Approximate elevations of key points:
Trailhead -- 6200ft
Hut -- 8200ft
Col -- 9000ft
Summit -- 10000ft

There's also a well-beaten summer trail when there's no snow - but why?

Location 

Upper south ridge of Baldy, left skyline when looking from the ski hut.

Protection 

Ice-axe and crampons.

Photos of Upper South Ridge Slideshow

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View from just above the col.

BETA PHOTO: Upper South Ridge of Mount Baldy.