I logged on today hoping to read some good reviews from the weekend, and instead I'm reading what sounds like a bunch of sissy crybabies vent over the road conditions, lifts and crowds at Baldy. Not one of them mentioned in detail the actial terrain condtions. I mean, we received nearly a record snowfall, right? Each one of the reviewrs wrote as if they were the only ones who should have been able to visit the area that day. Let's see...So Cal on a weekend after a week of snow and the road to Big bear closed...Mt High probably way too crowded...hmmm...hey, let's try Mt. Baldy cause noone will think to go there...not even all of the people that live in the Inland Empire only 15-20 min away...guess again. And everyone sitting in there car fuming and waiting anxiously in the lift line is blaming the other person for the wait. And so craziness ensues.

Keep Mt. Blady rustic--If you can't handle it, stay home!

I think I was in line with this poster yesterday, I overheard the same story about the lifts being lowered. Anyway, on to my very long review:

This is about the 6th time Ive come up to Mt. Baldy. It is my favorite local mountain to ski, that being said:

Pros: Best terrain by far in Socal, minimal crowds, Back country feel, gorgeous views, awesome powder days.

Cons: unprofessional staff, Road to the ski lifts is poorly maintained, Lifts are old and breakdown, very dependent on perfect weather, minimal snow making, minimal terrain park.

None of the other mountains in socal offer advanced terrain that anywhere near compares to baldy. It offers lots of steep terrain that has relatively large vertical, and great tree skiing (terrain under chair 1 is my favorite). Marked trails are minimal, the mountain has a make-your-own-way feel to it, that I love. Crowds are usually minimal, Most days you feel like you have the mountain to yourself, and there are small lift lines. The only exceptions to that I've experienced are days right after a storm on a weekend (still much less crowded that Mt. high or Bear).

From what I understand, this is a 'family' run resort. And it shows. Discipline is either lax or super rude. There is a older blond lady who I have seen there every time I go, and every time Is yelling at her staff, or at customers. Very rude and annoying. Twice I have taken friends to their rental shop for ski gear, The people fitting the skis didn't know what they were doing, and never had actually skied before. My friend was asking advice on whether to get a taller ski or not, and the fitter gave an attitude for some reason, probably because the fitter had no clue. Not to mention the bottom of the skiis looked like they had been gutted by a knife, and his bindings kept popping off prematurely. They would not give a voucher or refund. Rent elsewhere.

The lifts are often over-loaded and break down on more crowded or windy days, and from observing the lift operator's radio's there seems to be only 1 guy who knows how to get the lifts running when they stop. The hired Lift operators seem clueless. as a result, whenever a lift stops, you have to wait for this one guys to be reached, and then snow-mobiled to the other side of the mountain and then trouble shoot the problem. This Results in annoyingly long lift stoppages. Ive been to a chairlift where the operator was absent for about an hour, no one was there. Some staff are super friendly and nice, but lots just seem rude or don't give a ****. One lady wearing a staff jacket even shook her head and laughed at my girlfriend when she fell while I was teaching her, and just skied off. I get the vibe that a number of staff and locals aren't fond of outside people skiing this mountain, they seem to want it to themselves, but tolerate it for the money they need to run it (could be wrong but that's the vibe I've gotten).

They also lack the infrastructure to deal with crowds the few times that they have them. Rediculously long ticket lines, far away parking (How about a shuttle?).

Also, during the winter If you prefer to ski the advanced terrain, I would only recommend going during (if you have chains AND 4wd) or right after a big snow dump, and only if there's a minumum 18+ inch base. Powder days are the best in socal, but there is minimal snow making on this mountain so its more dependent on weather than others. The best terrain on the mountain in my opinion is under chair 1, and unfortunately it lies at a lower elevation between 6400 and 7800 feet, so due no snow making on these runs (that I've noticed), and warmer temperatures, sometimes its not even open.

The 3 or so mile road going from Mt baldy village to the ski lifts is steep and poorly maintained. I've seem lots of sliding and accidents on it. It is unusually steep and has sharp turns. do to changing snow levels It ices up often during storms (The road goes from about 5000 to 6400 feet). During a storm I would not recommend driving this road unless you have both 4WD AND chains, and are competent snow driver. Even then you need to be very careful of other cars sliding into you. I've seen many vehicles with 2WD and chains who simply cannot go up the hill, the tires wont grab. Often the road is closed for a couple hours on storm days due to accidents. For some reason this road does not seem to receive enough attention from snow plows and gravel trucks. Accidents ALWAYS seem to happen during storms, but there is not always plows and gravel. On good whether and non icy days though, driving up the road is no problem regardless of your vehicle.

IF you are coming for Park stuff, IE jumps, Jibs, Boxes, etc, this mountain has a small amount of it, it varies.

In summary, I love this mountain, not the staff working it. Best terrain and skiing in socal by far, conditions permitting. Compares to Big mountain skiing elsewhere. But I wish some corporation would by this mountain out and actually make something of it.