Mt. Baldy's first snowstorm strands backpackers

[azbackpackr]

This is from the White Mountain Independent:

Snowfall obscures trails, hikers call for help
By: Judy Hayes, The Independent
10/10/2008

GREER - Eight inches of snow last Saturday night covered the hiking trails on Mount Baldy and caused a Phoenix couple to ask for help getting back down the mountain Sunday morning.


According to a press release from the Apache County Sheriff's Office, a male hiker and his female companion hiked up Mount Baldy on Saturday to spend the night.
"On Sunday morning, the hikers observed that the trails, which were already cluttered with deadfall and trees killed by beetles, were obscured by the snow cover," read the release. "The hikers decided that the wisest course of action was to remain at their location and call for assistance. They notified the Sheriff's Office by cell phone and were able to relate their exact location to the dispatch center."
Deputies and Sheriff's Posse members were dispatched to the scene. Several posse members rode horses up the mountain, navigating the cluttered trails to locate the hikers.
The pair had camped at the junction of the east and west Mount Baldy trails, making it easy for searchers to find them. After several hours, the pair was returned to safety.

[big_load]

I've worried about being able to follow a snow-buried trail that I'm not familiar with. In some places even 8" won't be a problem (except for slowing you down), but in others it can be a real navigation challenge. I don't know that area well enough to guess how tough it would have been, but at least they didn't make their situation any worse by bushwhacking a shortcut to oblivion.

[PaleoRob]

Sounds like they did the smart thing in the situation - though perhaps they should have checked the weather before starting out.

[nonot]

The smart thing to do would have been to check the weather before you leave...it would have been obvious that it was going to be very cold from anyone who managed to listen to a weather forecast.

Ah well, a society that rewards idiocy will be overcome in time.

[mttgilbert]

How much snow actually fell? I've never been on Baldy so I don't know the trail conditions. How far is that trail junction from the trailhead?

Ah well, a society that rewards idiocy will be overcome in time.

Not if it's a society built on idiocy...

[Jeffshadows]

How much snow actually fell? I've never been on Baldy so I don't know the trail conditions. How far is that trail junction from the trailhead?

Ah well, a society that rewards idiocy will be overcome in time.

Not if it's a society built on idiocy...

That was to be my question, as well...

[azbackpackr]

I think it was about 8 inches. Both trailheads, East and West Baldy, are about 7 miles from that junction. However, since Hwy 273 is completely closed right now due to ongoing reconstruction, the FS has put in a temporary access trailhead you get to via Greer. And it connects to West Baldy trail. From what I have heard, the West Baldy Trail is the one that has the most deadfall. I haven't tried to hike it for two years because of this. There was massive die-off due to pinebark beetles. It is clearly visible, even from 20 miles away.