Air Rescue 307 SBCSD Aviation and SBC Fire perform a hoist Rescue in Mt.Baldy

[Elk]

[Jim Wilkins]

Amazing (and very dangerous) work by our Fire and Sheriff's personnel rescuing what looks to be out of bounds skiers.  Not sure these were just hikers.....they were skiing the backside of Baldy.  Something that only very, very good skiers should attempt.   They were very lucky to survive when a cornice broke and took them down the hill.  They did have a SPOT which enabled them to request help.  No cell service back there.  Thankfully a good outcome for everyone.

[Leftfield]

hmmm.....it says that witness called 9-1-1 so someone was close at hand plus cell service was available....its was a good thing for those folks...

[Jim Wilkins]

Yep.  It was one of their party that didn't go over the edge.  They also activated their SPOT. 

[Joe Schmoe]

I always thought the "bowl" was the front side of the mountain.

Anyhow, here's a picture of the remains of a 2008 avalanche at Baldy Falls, at the bottom of what I always thought was "the bowl".  Taken 3/28/08.  You can see the effects of the snow splashing down on the creek (best I can gather) with mud rocks and gravel covering a portion.  Later the creek undercut the slide and a portion cracked and fell into the creek again.  The snow inside the fissure was that distinct blue you see in films about glaciers.  Sadly the blue color didn't really come out in pictures.

[Jim Wilkins]

Maybe one of the Nadalins or others who have skiied it can chime in.  The backside of Baldy is a broad open area devoid of trees and amazing skiing for expert skiers with what can be a long walk to the road in Lytle Creek.   These guys had gone to the top of Baldy and fell down the backside.

[Joe Schmoe]

I think I figured it out - they were there to ski the backside but slipped down the other side of the ridge into the bowl.