03/20/2015
Mount Baldy, California
Blog Update: Finally done moving everything over to Blogspot. Loving it here already.
Baldy is part of the "Three Saints" along side with San Gorgonio Mountain and San Jacinto Peak. It is the tallest peak along the San Gabriel Mountains and is the perfect hike to test your limits with elevation gain. The trail starts on a fire road just off Manker Flats Campground and continues past San Antonio Falls. You can also loop this entire hike through Devil's Backbone to Baldy Bowl (Ski Hut Trail) to cut the distance down to around 11.3 miles. If you continue through the fire road to the ski lodge and Devil's Backbone, the elevation gain is steadier. If you decide to wrap around through the Ski Hut Trail (which is really easy to miss and starts a little ways down the fire road), the elevation gain is much more aggressive but is shorter by a little under two miles. There wasn't much snow left but the Visitor Center still recommends Yaktrax or MICROspikes when there is any sign of snow. When Devil's Backbone is blanketed in snow and ice, it becomes a technical mountaineer's route that I would avoid if you lack the experience and gear. Devil's Backbone is a thin trail and is notorious for hikers falling of its sides. Be careful!
Distance: ~11.0 miles (Out-and-Back)
Elevation Gain: 3,956 ft.
Final Elevation: 10,064 ft.
Elevation Gain: 3,956 ft.
Final Elevation: 10,064 ft.
Directions to the Trailhead: Use the following coordinates in Google Maps to route your directions to the fire road.
The hike begins on a gated fire road.
Start of the trail.
Passing by San Antonio Falls.
Continuing on the fire road.
Ski lifts taking you up to the start of Devil's Backbone & Top of the Notch Restaurant.
Skip a few miles by taking this if you're feeling lazy!
Top of the Notch Restaurant
Continuing on.
Elevation gain starting to really pick up.
First look over the trail.
Resting at the top of the 2nd ski lift.
Jacob and snow!
Nice.
Start of Devil's Backbone.
Having some fun in the snow. My Daniel Koster Bushcraft in CPM-3V keeping Bob company.
Don't slip!
Ack! I hate being able to see how much farther we need to go.
Look what we found. Jacob and another Bob!
Almost there...
Made it!
Took a quick lunch and coffee break in one of these pits.
#9!
Chris's Difficulty Scale: 6/10
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