josullivan

I live in Ontario and plan to visit southern California in January or February.
I am a climbing fan and was wondering if the 2 big climbs in the area--Palomar Mountain and Mount Baldy are rideable at that time of the year or are they snowed in. What about the climbs east of the Sierras around Bishop in the winter?

Thanks in advance
Brendan O'Sullivan
Mississauga
Ontario

calamarichris

You can pretty much count Bishop out. They actually get snow up there.
Baldy and Palomar are hit&miss. They might get snow a few times this winter, but it seldom lasts. Odds are good the roads will be clear when you get here. But if it's a snowy winter (ha, by SoCal standards) like last year, there will be a bunch of sand on Baldy Road's shoulder, and a steady stream of gonzo snowboarders driving up there.
No sand on Palomar, but your only concern there is the sport-motorcyclists who treat it like a race track on Sat & Sun mornings. Hitting it on a weekday morning is the best cure for that.
Another good one is Montezuma Grade, just up the hill from Borrego Springs--it climbs up out of the desert, so snow isn't very likely there. S'not famous but that means less traffic and it's enough of a climb to make your ears pop.

Mr. Beanz

Live in Ontario? I grew up in Ontario. It's about 5 miles from Mt Baldy!

socalrider

He might mean Ontario - Canada..

Baldy is hit and miss for snow, when there is snow, traffic can be tough to deal with since there is one way up to the slopes.. GMR is fairly rideable year long, you have to watch for some of the shaded spots on the backside for black ice. So Cal has many great rides into the mountains that are very rideable year long.

Hillbasher

Tell me you didn't really say that, did you Fred?

bitingduck

Even if there's not enough snow to ski there can be a lot of traffic on baldy above the village from people just going up to see snow (which is a novelty here, unlike in Canada). GMR usually won't have much more traffic than usual on those days. Unless it's actively snowing or just stopped, the roads generally be rideable up GMR/baldy. Highway 39 is also open up as far as crystal lake, and will likely still be open. Mt Wilson should also be ridable, but the park at the top will be closed.

My girlfriend lives in Montreal most of the time and usually spends most of January back here, and I think there have been few, if any, times that we couldn't ride GMR when we wanted to in January. We usually do the San Diego Hostels Christmas Bike from Dec 26-31, and that includes some optional climbs around san diego (palomar, san jacinto)

Mr. Beanz

It was a joke, I knew what he meant. Only worked because he doesn't have his location in his avatar.

fishymamba

If Baldy is closed(pretty unlikely) Crystal Lake is a nice HC climb up to the top. Over 5000 feet from Azusa to the top

josullivan

Thanks to all who have replied to my inquiry.

I know I'm showing my ignorance here but what is GHR ?

Brendan

Rick@OCRR

Don't know that one (GHR) but GMR is Glendora Mountain Road and GRR is Glendora Ridge Road.

If you start up GMR you will transition right at the junction to proceed to Mt. Baldy Village or transition left to go down Little GMR which intersects with Hwy 39; which goes up to Crystal Lake and eventually intersects with CA Hwy 2, also known as Angeles Crest (AC), which will take you to Dawson Saddle (right turn at the Hwy 2 junction), but by that elevation (almost 8,000 ft.) snow is quite likely that time of year.

Plus, I agree with Chris that Montezuma is an awesome climb and you get a terrific view of the desert as you ride up. It's part of the Borrego Ordeal Double Century (going up) and part of RAAM (going down).

Rick / OCRR

fishymamba

GMR- Glendora Mountain Road. That's all I know, I have never done the climb. Beanz can probably give you more info on the climb.

josullivan

Of course I meant GMR--sorry for the confusion.

Lesper4

I have done GMR and GRR in sub 35 temps and some ice on the road, i think rallison has done it with snow on the road. if you still want the climbing and not the white stuff just head to Malibu!

agoodale

If you were willing to go as far as Bishop (which will be snowed in) you might want to drive up to the Santa Barbara/Solvang (2 hours north of Los Angeles) area for a few days. There are some great routes with plenty of climbing up there.

josullivan

Thanks to all who supplied such valuable information.
If I can convince my wife, I hope to be heading to SoCal in Feb.

Regards
Brendan

Lost again

Lespar has got it right. Around the coastal mountain you can get all the climbing you want. Think in upwards of 15,000' in a day if your legs can handle it. And Feb is usually perfect riding weather around there.