Santa Rita Ice Storm

[SpiderLegs]

I have not personally witnessed this, but a guy in my trail running group was up on the Old Baldy trail just after last weekend's storms and took some pictures. A huge ice storm hit the Santa Rita's at roughly the elevation of Bellows Springs and higher. Old Baldy right now is impassable, tons of trees and branches down. Don't know how other trails fared.

[PatrickL]

Would love to see what it looks like up there!

[chumley]

@PatrickL
Probably a little like this: [ photoset ]
It's disconcerting when the trees are snapping under the weight of rime and wind. I'm sure there are some obstacles but I'm gonna bet that "impassable" is a little over dramatic.

[Jim]

@PatrickL
James sent me those Monday, and he got them from a friend. Knowing what James has told me about uploading photos, I don't think he will object so I will load them here. They aren't mine and could vanish.

[Jim]

From closer inspection now that I am not viewing them on my phone, and having not been there in a month, this appears to be rime ice, and not a traditional ice storm like you see in the SE US.

Since this was taken on one slope, it may be that the ice is not present on the other side, such as where the trail ascends above the Baldy Saddle. Also, there likely wouldn't be a glaze on the trail itself. It has been near 70 in the valley with sun, so hopefully most of this is melting.

Bring an axe?

[SpiderLegs]

Saw an update on my trail running forum. Super Trail is pretty much free and clear. A trail crew went up Old Baldy trail almost immediately and started clearing it out. Guess another trail crew is heading up today to finish the job. But the section around Bellows Springs was thick with downed trees and branches for about a day or two.

[Jim]

@SpiderLegs
Well, that is great news! Old Baldy is one trail that would be a shame to have closed longer than a week.

[SpiderLegs]

@Jim_H - The nice thing about that other forum I'm on is that there are a few retired trail runners and hikers that live in Green Valley and not much else to do but go up and down Old Baldy multiple times a week. If trail conditions sour in the Santa Rita's, they post immediately.

[ShatteredArm]

Just came down Old Baldy today, up at the switchbacks it looks like a tornado went through there. The giant chunks of ice all over the ground was wild. The trail is completely clear at this point, although it was very, very slippery in places. Microspikes highly advisable (although I didn't think to bring mine).