Woke up and got out the door a frenzy while I got things together so that I could be ready when Randy, Alex, and J.B. got here. We drove about an hour to Mount Baldy
6:15 (Manker Flats)
We left the parking lot with our gear to begin our 7 hour journey up and down the mountain. We were pretty excited to begin what was our first mountain hiking experience.
7:00 (San Antonio Falls)
Although not as raging as Niagara, it was still a nice stop on the trail. At this time of the year it was one of two water sources that we saw on the trail. The gnome as the traveling companion to the left.
Although not as raging as Niagara, it was still a nice stop on the trail. At this time of the year it was one of two water sources that we saw on the trail. The gnome as the traveling companion to the left.
On Route towards the Mount Baldy Ski Lodge
The of the surrounding valleys and basins were incredible.
The of the surrounding valleys and basins were incredible.
The Ski Lodge at last
A Restaurant Bar sits at the top of the ski lift with some pretty amazing views of the San Gabriel basin below. After a slow hike up the slope by us (I mean Al, Randy, and J.B. waiting for me) we reached the lodge. Offers a nice break at 7500 feet.
A Restaurant Bar sits at the top of the ski lift with some pretty amazing views of the San Gabriel basin below. After a slow hike up the slope by us (I mean Al, Randy, and J.B. waiting for me) we reached the lodge. Offers a nice break at 7500 feet.Half Way to the Summit
Little did I know what Devil’s Backbone actually meant, but at this point we were feeling pretty good. The most strenuous part of the hike lie waiting for us, laughing.
Little did I know what Devil’s Backbone actually meant, but at this point we were feeling pretty good. The most strenuous part of the hike lie waiting for us, laughing.
Detour #1
We ended up missing the trail and climbing this part of the mountain which was steep but offered an incredible view of the Antelope Valley to the East. To the South, we could see the rising peaks of Mt. San Gorgonio and San Jacinto.
We ended up missing the trail and climbing this part of the mountain which was steep but offered an incredible view of the Antelope Valley to the East. To the South, we could see the rising peaks of Mt. San Gorgonio and San Jacinto.
Mount Baldy Notch
The steep climb up the slopes of the mountain rewarded the group with our first glimpse of the Prize. (Mount San Antonio Summit) At this point in the hike we got a nice cool mountain breeze to aid our efforts.
The steep climb up the slopes of the mountain rewarded the group with our first glimpse of the Prize. (Mount San Antonio Summit) At this point in the hike we got a nice cool mountain breeze to aid our efforts.
Preparing for the assault on the summit
Inspired by the gnome, the group was ready to take on the summit.
Inspired by the gnome, the group was ready to take on the summit.
Devils Backbone
A grueling two mile, up a 2000 feet elevation trek up the ridge of the mountain near Mount Harwood.
A grueling two mile, up a 2000 feet elevation trek up the ridge of the mountain near Mount Harwood.
The Summit At Last (10:27 A.M.)
At the exact time that Alex predicted we made the summit. With the help of Randy, who carried my backpack up the last leg, thank you Randy, I was able to reach the summit. Out of breath the spectacular views rewarded the long journey. It is indescribable the feeling of accomplishment that you get when you take that final step and look out at the beauty of that lies around you. A great feeling when you can share it great friends
that you have grown up with
.
At the exact time that Alex predicted we made the summit. With the help of Randy, who carried my backpack up the last leg, thank you Randy, I was able to reach the summit. Out of breath the spectacular views rewarded the long journey. It is indescribable the feeling of accomplishment that you get when you take that final step and look out at the beauty of that lies around you. A great feeling when you can share it great friends
that you have grown up with
.Views From The Summit
The Way Down
After about a 45 Minute lunch of what I have to say was the best Lunchable and Target Trail Mix that I have ever had, we ventured our way down the mountain. I entered this part of the hike with tremendous optimism thinking that going down was much easier than going up. If it took us nearly four hours climbing the mountain, that it would take at most two hours to get to the car, Right? NOOOO I was wrong. Somehow we ventured off the return trial into our second detour.Detour #2- The Plane Wreckage
A series of switchback leading off the steep summit face led us into a side the mountain, where for the first time all day, we did not see a soul. Traveling on the western side of the mountain towards a gully that runs down through some dense thickets and following the switchbacks, we encountered the wreckage of aC46 plane that crashed in 1945. Check the following link for some further information. http://www.qnet.com/~carcomm/wreck22.htm. It was a pretty amazing sight. Because of the superior navigating skills of Randy and J.B., they were able to locate the trail head but getting there required a horizontal climb across a steep rock face where we began to see people again. From here, it was an exhausting hour hike down the mountain encountering switchback after switchback. We ended up reaching the car around 3:30 and ended our adventure at a familiar high school hangout, Del Taco. Best Tacos ever. 