Everything we can find out about the mountain, in one place, so you can decide well and come home.

Why we built this

We're a hiking crew who love these mountains. On December 29, 2025, three people from two different groups died on the same day near Devil's Backbone on Mt Baldy, after rain and snow froze to ice. It hit us hard.

Around the same time, after the same storms, we were trying to find out what Baldy was like before going up. We searched Facebook, Instagram and Reddit, and found almost nothing about the conditions after the storm. Everything we found was from before it. So we held off.

After those deaths, the trails were closed. We understand why. But we believe that people who are prepared should be able to choose to go, and that everyone deserves good information to make that choice. When I brought this idea to people who look after these lands, they told me they don't have the resources to do it. I offered to help, and they said that would be great. So that's what we're doing.

Mitch Lusas

What this is, and what it isn't

One page per mountain that says, simply: what the conditions are probably like, what you can expect on each part of the trail, and what you'll need to prepare. Where people have died in conditions like today's, we say so.

The mountains are never risk-free, and that's part of why we go: they push us. We want people to push themselves based on information. Our information is good only up to a point. There are no snow gauges on Baldy, so we estimate from weather forecasts, the shape of the land, and what hikers tell us. We'll keep improving it, and we'll always say how sure we are.

Help us, as people who love these mountains

• Share what you see. When you're up there, add a photo and a few words. Your hiker profile shows your experience level, and each photo says the minimum gear you recommend to get to that spot, so others can judge it. Create your hiker profile.
• Tell us what's wrong or missing. If the page didn't match what you found, or you know a better way to estimate, we want to hear it. Send feedback.
• Help us measure. We'd like to put snow gauges on these peaks, as a community, not waiting on anyone else. If you can help with that, tell us.
• Chip in for the servers. It's free, with no ads. Donations open soon.

Where we start, and where we're going

We're starting with the peaks we love: Mt Baldy, Cucamonga, Ontario, San Gorgonio and San Jacinto. Then the smaller peaks around them. If this helps people, we'll keep spreading out.

And one more thing for anyone who manages these mountains: closing a trail isn't the only option. If you're prepared and ready, there's information here. It isn't perfect, and we'll keep making it better.