Skiing in LA // From Backcountry to Beach

Mount San Antonio aka Mount Baldy is just within the boundary of Los Angeles County. The city itself is roughly 35 miles away by chartered helicopter or an hour to two and a half hours by car depending on the time of day.
Very recently, I was surprised to discover that a 10,000 ft peak existed on the doorstop of Tinseltown. I’ve been to LA and the surrounding areas often in my life but never knew it was possible to ski so close to the famous beaches of the City of Angels. I’m sure the conditions have to be perfect for skiing to be possible on Mount Baldy/Mount San Antonio. For me they were perfect… almost. The snow was great. Around 14 inches of new snow fell 24 hours before my arrival. My challenge was to take advantage of that snow before the Southern California sun could destroy it.

[@jackgaughan4027]

Would love to see Danny explain to his wife why he was packing ski gear for the family beach trip.

[@patcaribou]

Mt. Baldy's neighbor, San Jacinto, has the infamous "cactus to clouds" hike, which starts behind the Palms Springs Art Museum ~ 600ft ASL. From there to the top of 10,800 ft San Jacinto Peak, its about 16 miles and 11,000ft of vert. Most people hike back down to the visitor center(at 8000 ft) and take the tram back while being serenaded to "Sweet Caroline" which makes for a 22 mile day. For those who still have knees, they may opt to hike all the way back down to Palm Springs, making for a 32mi day. Its like.a junior, R2R2R hike in the Grand Canyon.

[@adamdonaldson4321]

San Jacinto is such a trippy mountain to hike because one moment you're hiking through desert mountains and all the sudden you're on this plateau where you could easily be in the Sierra's, and you look over at Tahquitz rock and it looks very yosemite like, and then the next day you descend over 8,000 feet straight down to the desert floor like it was all a dream.

[@Gabrielishere]

So many have turned around when halfway up because they didn't bring enough water, only to meet their end on the descent, as its usually mid day by then, and the temps get hotter and hotter as they try and make it down in that emergency. Key is to keep going up even if you are running out of water, as you stand a much better chance.

[@Dontbustthecrust]

that sounds awesome

[@lukecalclimbs2463]

You can also ski down the north side

[@dft1]

ive mountain biked from the tram down to the desert floor portion, one heck of a ride

[@CarmeloBlast]

I'm a So Cal native and I never take days like this for granted. About a week ago, I surfed in the morning in Seal Beach and hit up Baldy for an afternoon session. I always get stuck in traffic on the way back, but it's worth it. Glad you had fun.

[@deivclayton]

That view at the top was fantastic. I've seen that view many times from other mountain peaks. 🤣

[@phillipshaw-qx8ow]

This may be my absolute all time favorite because Danny just embraces everything! You're the best Danny! What a journey its been since the start of the global pandemic (2020).

[@FORTUNENGLORY]

I’ve seen LA. That was the best view of it.

[@wolfeadventures]

100%

[@ueswhy3662]

for real

[@MrSpartanPaul]

I skied Baldy back in 89-91. Had a 5-6 foot powder day once. Off piste was wild. Some of the best skiing of my life.

[@mtnhiii]

I never thought I’d see you hike our local mountain! Very cool to watch someone with your talent and camera skills up there.

[@krisztian007]

Great to see you in our mountains Danny! When I saw you were running in Malibu on spring break, I thought, he should have brought his skis, Baldy is prime right now! Well you did. I skied Mt. Baldy lifts on the same day I think as this.. Once the sun came out, it was awesome....Thanks for the cool classic soundtrack...never gets old!

[@turboag12]

Never thought Mount Baldy would make it on the channel. Skied there for a season in 2019. Awesome summer hike too. Great video 🤟

[@SteepTurns]

Your channel is my favorite content on the internet. I appreciate the inspo more than you know.

[@Bodikdereka]

Danny can turn literally anything into an extreme snow-filled adventure - even going to the beach in LA...

[@TheCookieGlacier]

I'd like to thank you guys for making these videos. They've inspired me to get outside and enjoy life a little bit more, and that has not only made this winter packed full of once in a lifetime experiences for me, but I am also in probably the best shape of my life right now thanks to it. Thank you, and keep it up!

[@j.r.1184]

Everybody, let's get the fellas to 100k subscribers 😀. Hopefully Danny's wife will give him less hard time after recieving the silver play button from YT 😁

[@TheHikingChef]

Hell yeah!!! My home mountain!! Thanks for this episode!!!

[@DaBeeClimber]

700 subs away from 100k. Congrats guys

[@bellicose2037]

I love finding unique features like this, it reinvigorates my sense of wonder. In Arizona there is a mountain that has the southern most lift serviced ski area in the us and i hiked it from the base. It went from cacti as tall as trees to aspens and snow at the summit. And the journey in-between was quite the interesting experience. I mean you start at the car where itll reach 90+ degrees and at the summit it's like 65 and you're just looking sown 7000 feet at a city and at all sorts of other sky islands

[@thelonelyphish]

If you're looking for big mountain skiing in socal we've also got Mt San gorgonio and Mt San jacinto, gorgonio has the high alpine bowls and chutes while san jacinto has a creek that drops 10k feet directly off the summit, with the right conditions you can ski for over 5k feet

[@TheSun1901]

Breathtaking! Thank you for sharing!

[@nickkaravidas499]

If you ever want to swap stories, at 16 years old, I began to ski Baldy, hiked and skied most peaks, pro patrolled and ran the ski school until noon in the spring and spent my afternoons surfing the jetties of Newport Beach….1978-1990. I’ve heli-skied the Monashees to toured some pretty hard terrain all around the western US…..but when Baldy was ‘on’, there was nothing better!

[@martinnelson2137]

Great logo. I grew up in the valley. Mt. Baldy's small village was 20 minutes from our house. Thanks for the visit as I haven't been back in 45 years. Whistler is my new go to Cheers. M.

[@DomDizzler5053]

This video basically summed up every experience I've ever had on Baldy! Tiring, completely unpredictable, and highly windy, but still somehow an endlessly amazing time. So happy to see you ski our home peak.

[@DISASTERJOE]

I lived in LA County for a few years and this is my favorite mountain in the area. Glad it made an impression on you.

[@waynehearst317]

Welcome to one of many So.Cal treasures. In the 90's, before everyone had the internet, "poaching" Baldy was a real treat. Some of the deepest powder and steepest skiing in So.Cal is Baldy backcountry. Several people have died trying it tho, glad you were smart about it. We used to get "trifecta" days, up at 0500, drive up to Snow Summit for a half-day session of snowboarding, back down the mtn. by 3PM for a session at Weege's half-pipe or Diver's Corner pool, then hit Seal Beach pier for a night session surfing. Those were the days that i'll remember most about my late teens. The best of times!

[@markpriest589]

So glad you're back! I was a trifle worried that something happened to you. Thanks, again, for the always entertaining vids.

[@XPLRNW]

You guys work so hard to make this amazing content, thank you!!

[@kyledetavis1298]

Grew up in Southern California and Baldy is my home mountain. Pretty awesome to see it on the channel. A lot of people don’t realize the pretty amazing mountains right there in SoCal.

[@MrSpartanPaul]

I tell people on the chairlift nowadays that some of the best skiing of my life was in LA. They are always dumbfounded. 😂

[@andreyv1]

I just finished my Sunday morning coffee after checking my subscriptions and not seeing an upload. This is a pleasant surprise! The sarcasm at the summit was nice too 😂

[@mikegalvez2575]

I live at the base of Baldy! When the conditions are good its one of my favorite places to ski. Never thought id see Baldy on the channel.

[@domesticterrorist483]

Excellent as always Danny, glad to see you are still at it. Have topped out in similar conditions many times, understand the frustration when it clears as you ski down. Hope the missus wasn't too pissed off when you got back. Happy wife happy life.

[@ES-ge7bb]

Thanks for sharing the world class views from the summit

[@tquist61]

Awesome video! Next trip to Southern California you might want to consider a more challenging hike - Cactus to Clouds hike to San Jacinto Peak, which starts near Palm Springs and has an impressive 10,300' of elevation gain.

[@joshlegere]

Yes and Gorgonio

[@DaBeeClimber]

Or san gorgonio!

[@MrSpartanPaul]

Yes San Gorgonio had an old DC-3 on the trail near the summit too. Eerie feeling stepping over the wing to follow the trail.

[@TimLPINE]

That was a thing when I was in HS (Huntington Beach High! Orange Crush!)- surf in the morning and ski at night at Snow Summit! It's the quintessential (privileged) SoCal experience!

[@Juniperwren77]

SoCal loves you Danny! I wish we had more mountains for you to ski!

[@steveilg6134]

When I lived in LA I’d often Tele at Mountain High then in-line skate Venice Beach in the afternoon…the juxtaposition is never lost. Great effort and hope your better half wasn’t too mad at you! 🙏🏾

[@Zuch3to]

Been awhile since I've seen a video from you pop up! Your videos are the one thing that kept me sane during covid lockdowns in 2020.

[@zekewapner7372]

LA is the best ski town in america! Stand by that

[@MrSpartanPaul]

It has its moments for sure, at least it used to when I lived there in 89-91.

[@eliwhitley1878]

We wait to see what the weather will actually do. I'm over the mountain in Wrightwood, same weather...crazy! It snowed in the sun last saturday! Thanks for the trip!

[@tannermccormick4995]

Always a good day when you upload!!

[@shelleydiamond6468]

Welcome to Fantastic LA & its unsurpassed front yard (beach) & back yard mountains. The San Gabriel & San Bernardino mountains are beautiful. Come back on a sunny day and hike Mt Baldy. But it’s really very cool that you could ski in those conditions & find your way back to the car !

[@BreakOutOfTheAlgorithm]

Love everything about this channel! 👁️👍🔔

[@themcbobgorge]

Baldy is kind of a beast, but also most of the deaths come from the proximity to Los Angeles and the fact that most of the hikers come from the Santa Monica mountains and think the climate will be similar up by baldy.

[@kraigstenberg9094]

Great entertainment, as always.

[@karifogt5526]

Awesome, it’s so cool you hiked it you should try it again on a clear day it’s worth it. I hike this mountain and surrounding areas all the time!

[@stephennick8566]

I have done this hike a bunch in the winter! Love to see you do our local mountains!

[@runninghighOG]

Wow! I've never seen so much snow on Baldy below ski hut. It's been a crazy winter here in SoCal. You hit it at the perfect time. Hope you enjoy your time here. BTW, we call it Baldy.

Great video as always! That whiteout at the summit was crazy. Almost 100k subs, let's go guys!

[@scottirons5594]

New video on my birthday! Awesome gift!

[@slagmaker6780]

The Bluest view was your jacket! :) Hiked Baldy a few times. Was good to see the snow and views! :)

[@dapete]

surprised all that dripping sarcasm didn't melt the snow

[@chinawingo]

That was cool, enjoyed the video

[@jwhoward182]

We used to call those conditions a “white out”. Brings back some seriously scary memories. One time the snow and clouds were so perfectly matched everyone in the party had vertigo and could not stand.

[@doriswlongAgoandfarAway]

Like seeing the tree. That was a very nice tree.

[@hello-lb3vf]

this is amazing. can't wait to do this

[@fvtown]

With how snowy it was up there this year, I someone would ski it this season, you're a hero for doing it AND making an incredible video about it! Some incredible shots and the shot of you disappearing into the snowy wind blows my mind. Incredible camera work!

[@Hrmn8tor]

Nice score dude! Glad you had a good trip

[@josharnott556]

I just want to say that I have literally no interest in skiing. You’re the *only* skiers I will ever watch because your content is just so great! But I’m patiently waiting for another epic summit video!

[@medicinegone]

Oh look, my favorite channel posted a thing. Thanks!

[@beeclimbing9954]

Ah Danny, nice to have you back and in fine form "...all it took was me leaving for the sun to come out" 😂 Hope the rest of the guys are well, looking forward to summer adventures 👍

[@gotsu21]

Just as PCT thru hike season started. Mt Baldy is the first snowy mtn in sight from San Diego.

[@kendallmartel9339]

No way Danny. Never would expect you to adventure so far southwest to my home area and ski Baldy. The ski resort is definitely a local gem. You were correct in saying the area does not normally fill in. However when it does, there is nothing better than Baldy as you were there at the right time and got to experience the goods. So late in the season too! Epic. Been riding here all winter this year and it's been one of the best seasons in recent memory. Was lucky enough to do the SoCal trifecta of surfing, golfing and skiing all in the same day ending at Baldy just a week after you were there. Glad you also appreciated the snow to beach in the same day combo. Cheers!

[@voodooutt]

Welcome to our local mountains! The ski hut trail is a bit technical on skins, but it looks like you had a blast the whole day!

[@edwardo123]

Yeeesss new M.A. video is always a good day

[@andrewbarabas4900]

Sorry you caught it in bad conditions! The baldy bowl is a really great corn run when conditions are spring-y. Hope you aren't deterred enough from skiing it again or maybe trying San Gorgonio next time you're in socal

[@ViaFerrataCH]

Lovely summit view

[@johnhawkk]

Aaanndddddd this is why Baldy takes souls every year.

[@ropecutter]

Adventure has no guarantee. Thanks

[@melaVOLENCE]

So cool to see you on our local mountain! I went up a few days ago, immediately after the last storm, and it was clear as far as the eye could see. Glad you got some turns in despite the near-whiteout conditions. 😂

[@n8032]

Can't wait to see these guys do Cactus to Clouds in the palm desert. I would LOVE to see their ascent time

[@joebrady9829]

Best view from the summit of any Mediocre Amateur video ever

[@jtcollins2112]

Great work man

[@markpriest589]

This video brought back memories of you running with your friends in Marin County on Mt. Tamalpais and down to Stintson Beach.

[@FerrerLarruy]

Who knows how angry my wife is going to be... this sentence sounds very familiar to me. Thank you Danny for your beautiful and encouraging videos. Keep rolling!

[@erikseymour1]

Very cool!

[@Paramedic772]

Great video! Was wondering where you’ve been!

[@ChrisWagner-bh3vn]

8:37. That's my favorite view of SOCAL.

[@jpmmustonen]

Hagan Ultra's are just awesome skis!

[@MrSpartanPaul]

I was looking at those too. Seemed like they were light.

[@robinsmith9734]

Well done on vacation bypass, wind/viz ratio, blank! Good shot Danny.......

[@gpapink]

I grew up the 3rd house up from the beach in Manhattan Beach. I remember a few times my dad and I drove to Mt Waterman skied all day, drove home and went body surfing. Only in SoCal. BTW I am 76.

[@user-ud8bd5li4p]

The backcountry skiing in the San Bernardinos is super fickle, but when it's good, it's really good. Baldy Bowl is the best-known highlight, but there is also good skiing on Baden-Powell and Telegraph. And there is always San Gorgonio. The hike in - from the South Fork trailhead or Vivian Creek - is a bigger undertaking than the Baldy Bowl trail. But on the rare good day, the payoff can be pretty amazing. IYKYK

[@BergenVrede]

Good one! 😊 I think we need a thread of summer/winter combo days. I have ski+bike; ski+sail; ski+waterski

[@catsmith7234]

Interesting to see the weather on this very famous mountain. It's been in the news and it's interesting to see the terrain also.

[@attchaphomemovies3620]

So stoked to see this upload. Lots of skimo potential in SoCal. Hope you come back again. Our tallest peak east of Baldy clocks in at 11,500 ft Check out San Gorgonio next time. Definitely mediocre material.

[@Mars_Life_and_Beings]

Great find. Obviously a different Mt Baldy from Snowbird. We wanted to see you at the beach though.

[@bens956]

Dannnnyyy, I wish you would’ve known about San Gorgonio Peak. It’s close to 12,000 feet and just another 30 min further east from Mount Baldy. The total out and back is a many more miles however.

[@davidfeiler1279]

Ski and surf in the same day in LA!

[@victor.randolph]

Ahh my local mountains! We do the Southern California trifecta.. wakeboard in the morning, snowboard in the afternoon, and surf at sunset

[@nickwoolard9093]

I think the hut was built when the snow was a bit more reliable. You usually need to ski it quick when it snows, especially in April so you did the right thing there. Nearby San Jacinto has a 10K descent if you time it right but access is difficult

[@davidbboarding]

I travel down there for work at MTN High and to visit family all the time, always curious about a hike over there, thanks for sharing! Every time I go surf early and take a lil longer, I wonder the same thing... is my wife gunna be pissed??? at least I scored 😂

[@jeremys6631]

👏👏👏 amazing! You probably saw Forest pulling up skiing video 😅

[@MrFredl91]

time to put your ski away, the trails are waiting 😊🎉

[@ContentsMayDiffer]

You're committed when you bring your boots to the beach just for the footage.

[@leoromanovsky]

Did a snowshoe a few days ago up to Mt. San Jacinto (~10.8k') and caught a few backcountry skiers out there as well. The views into the Coachella desert are amazing - try it out next time you're in SoCal.

[@stephenskinner4857]

Used to work a second shift in Aerospace, which allowed me to get up at crack of dawn and drive to Mt. Baldy to ski in the morning. Would change my play cloths to work cloths while driving back to Long Beach. When arriving at work I'd be all burn't from the sun, and looking like I just got off the beach. People would say, “What have you been doing?” Skiing in the mountains”. Only could that in the L.A. area. Maybe oneday this State will be healthy again so young folk can do what I did. Good times.

[@sohlbergk]

That summit commentary is peak Danny sarcasm. Perhaps surprisingly, another place where you can access ski and beach on the same day is... Delaware! When I was at the University there I called my buddy to ski the last of the snow in the Poconos one fine late March day (might have been early April). Turns out, he had been at Rehoboth beach that morning!

[@MrSpartanPaul]

Crazy, never would've guessed.

[@ruffrydazz2032]

Growing up, I had a signed poster of Scott Schmidt skiing Baldy. It’s a great mountain that has been a backcountry classic in SoCal for decades!

[@seanmcguire61]

Stunning views 😂

[@user-xk5fs1zu3m]

my favorite mountain to hike in socal :) i miss it down there

[@GreenTacoma44]

Glad you made it safe! My father in law makes a ton of air rescues off of Baldy because of how dangerous and unpredictable it is up there.

[@PastorHan1776]

I just did this two days ago. And there was only snow near the summit. Fun times.