Post by speacock on Dec 7, 2015 9:10:37 GMT -8
Each Birthday, I attempt to go up Mt Baldy and use the trip as a measure of my age. Yep, it confirmed I am depreciating quickly. It is relatively close, presents a good challenge and my wife never needs to worry about me being solo. Its under a 4000' gain to about 10,000' along a good trail that is under 5 miles. The trail to the top is considered strenuous and can keep your heart rate as high as you want it to be.
Yesterday at 400' above sea level, I leisurely packed my day pack, added a few extra pounds of warm gear and got at the trail head about 8AM. It is about an hour from my front door. I was surprised by the hundred + cars already there. I could not imagine they all wanted to go up THAT trail. I have a small car (VERY small) and took the primo parking spot closest to the trail head and the outhouses.
The trail starts by climbing around a locked gate to go a bit over 1/2 a mile up a road to where it takes a significant reverse turn. Going straight a hundred yards gets you to San Antonio Falls or at this time of year and drought - the 'Dribble'. Continuing up the road about 15 min keeping a watchful eye to the left, a trail takes off going steeply up away from the road. At one time it was the 'secret handshake' to the trail to the Sierra Club Ski hut - the Green Hut. If you had to ask you were not part of the 'club'. You had to know where the trail began without signage. Currently there are two posts marking the trail one broken off and the other damaged. I suspect one of the hard core will soon snuff out the evidence of the trail so that the 'unwashed' don't find it easily.
The trail goes to Baldy Bowl, a happy place for those who like snow - when it happens. Good place to practice mountaineering skills and determination. The trail head is plowed for the ski area above the trail head parking. The hut is just off the trail before you cross the creek to continue your plod to the top. It can be reserved for $15-20 a night depending if you are a Sierra Club Member. angeles.sierraclub.org/about_us/welcome/activity_sections gives the complete rundown and where to go to reserve a spot in the hut. It is maintained by volunteers.
I was surprised by the amount of water near the hut and crossing the trail considering this is at the top end of the drought here. NO FIRES (stoves or otherwise) allowed anywhere in the Bowl - sez the sign tacked to the door of the hut. They can only be used inside the hut. Overnight camping is allowed in the area in specified places. I guess you will have to settle for cold canned beans for meals if you don't pay the $1 for day use of the hut.
The trail has had some relatively recent trail maintenance (work crews looking for volunteers) and the trail from the hut to the summit ridge is even almost adequate now. It used to be somebody pointing toward the general idea of getting into the trees and picking any number of direct routes uphill to the ridge. It is still a challenge for the fit. In the past it was considered almost a cross country route from the hut upwards with some route finding needed. When clear below, there are wonderful views of the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles from the ridge.
One sort of finds their way up the ridge taking the general route and a traverse to the last effort up a relatively gentle slope to the top. You meet up with the very lightly used trail that comes from behind the library in the town of Mt Baldy. This is definitely a 'worthy' trail for the masochist. I had lunch on top and off before 11p It was cold (under 40F) and windy. From all of the cars parked at Manker Flats I was surprised that there was only two other guys with me freezing their buns off at the summit. I met about a 1/2 dozen coming down from the top on my way up and speed demons blowing by me leaving me in the dust.
From the top you have various wrong choices to get back down. If you don't remember the trail location you came up, you might have a few concerns you are on the route you would like - other than the one to the city of Wrightwood a fer piece away, but a worthwhile jaunt if you can find a ride back to your car.
I had enough time to take the longer way down to make the day about 12 miles via the very nice and scenic adventure of the Devils Backbone to the ski area (yep they can make snow here) and maybe a ride down the ski lift skipping the last three miles on the road to my car. If you plan on the ski lift be sure to call ahead to see if it is operating. It runs on weekends otherwise all week during ski season. For a nice day hike take the ski lift up to Baldy Notch and then head left to the top of Baldy or right to start/end of the 'Triple T' trail (Timber Mountain, Telegraph Peak, and Thunder Mountain ending at Ice House canyon). Parking near the lift (a mile above Manker flat) is $5 during snow season. Other wise your $40 annual Adventure Pass saves you a $5 fine for parking in Manker flats without it. Being a skin flint, I hiked the 3 mile road down to where I started and enjoyed the company of a family doing the same.
I didn't take any photographs since others (in the link above) have done so much better than I could. Besides I inadvertently left the camera in the car. Don't consider this a way to get away from the maddening crowds. The highlight of the day was that it was clear enough to see several of the islands off the coast with Santa Catalina being almost smog/haze free viewing. I was surprised by goats rampaging non stop at high speed along a traverse just below me on the way down from the top. They seem to run faster than a greyhound and especially over the uneven alpine terrain. Another unusual surprise were the two items I collected (along with all the trail garbage). One was a very nice warm watch cap and the other was a Victoria Secret well padded bra. The cap was probably lost on the way down and not sure how a bra would get left behind. It was unseasonably chilly there.
Back home by 4p. I like that this trip starts the year's hiking and backpacking season and is worthwhile even if you don't have the cake and ice cream I had waiting for me.
More info: www.summitpost.org/returns-to-mt-baldy-goats-groans-and-helping-each-other-out/503051
Yesterday at 400' above sea level, I leisurely packed my day pack, added a few extra pounds of warm gear and got at the trail head about 8AM. It is about an hour from my front door. I was surprised by the hundred + cars already there. I could not imagine they all wanted to go up THAT trail. I have a small car (VERY small) and took the primo parking spot closest to the trail head and the outhouses.
The trail starts by climbing around a locked gate to go a bit over 1/2 a mile up a road to where it takes a significant reverse turn. Going straight a hundred yards gets you to San Antonio Falls or at this time of year and drought - the 'Dribble'. Continuing up the road about 15 min keeping a watchful eye to the left, a trail takes off going steeply up away from the road. At one time it was the 'secret handshake' to the trail to the Sierra Club Ski hut - the Green Hut. If you had to ask you were not part of the 'club'. You had to know where the trail began without signage. Currently there are two posts marking the trail one broken off and the other damaged. I suspect one of the hard core will soon snuff out the evidence of the trail so that the 'unwashed' don't find it easily.
The trail goes to Baldy Bowl, a happy place for those who like snow - when it happens. Good place to practice mountaineering skills and determination. The trail head is plowed for the ski area above the trail head parking. The hut is just off the trail before you cross the creek to continue your plod to the top. It can be reserved for $15-20 a night depending if you are a Sierra Club Member. angeles.sierraclub.org/about_us/welcome/activity_sections gives the complete rundown and where to go to reserve a spot in the hut. It is maintained by volunteers.
I was surprised by the amount of water near the hut and crossing the trail considering this is at the top end of the drought here. NO FIRES (stoves or otherwise) allowed anywhere in the Bowl - sez the sign tacked to the door of the hut. They can only be used inside the hut. Overnight camping is allowed in the area in specified places. I guess you will have to settle for cold canned beans for meals if you don't pay the $1 for day use of the hut.
The trail has had some relatively recent trail maintenance (work crews looking for volunteers) and the trail from the hut to the summit ridge is even almost adequate now. It used to be somebody pointing toward the general idea of getting into the trees and picking any number of direct routes uphill to the ridge. It is still a challenge for the fit. In the past it was considered almost a cross country route from the hut upwards with some route finding needed. When clear below, there are wonderful views of the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles from the ridge.
One sort of finds their way up the ridge taking the general route and a traverse to the last effort up a relatively gentle slope to the top. You meet up with the very lightly used trail that comes from behind the library in the town of Mt Baldy. This is definitely a 'worthy' trail for the masochist. I had lunch on top and off before 11p It was cold (under 40F) and windy. From all of the cars parked at Manker Flats I was surprised that there was only two other guys with me freezing their buns off at the summit. I met about a 1/2 dozen coming down from the top on my way up and speed demons blowing by me leaving me in the dust.
From the top you have various wrong choices to get back down. If you don't remember the trail location you came up, you might have a few concerns you are on the route you would like - other than the one to the city of Wrightwood a fer piece away, but a worthwhile jaunt if you can find a ride back to your car.
I had enough time to take the longer way down to make the day about 12 miles via the very nice and scenic adventure of the Devils Backbone to the ski area (yep they can make snow here) and maybe a ride down the ski lift skipping the last three miles on the road to my car. If you plan on the ski lift be sure to call ahead to see if it is operating. It runs on weekends otherwise all week during ski season. For a nice day hike take the ski lift up to Baldy Notch and then head left to the top of Baldy or right to start/end of the 'Triple T' trail (Timber Mountain, Telegraph Peak, and Thunder Mountain ending at Ice House canyon). Parking near the lift (a mile above Manker flat) is $5 during snow season. Other wise your $40 annual Adventure Pass saves you a $5 fine for parking in Manker flats without it. Being a skin flint, I hiked the 3 mile road down to where I started and enjoyed the company of a family doing the same.
I didn't take any photographs since others (in the link above) have done so much better than I could. Besides I inadvertently left the camera in the car. Don't consider this a way to get away from the maddening crowds. The highlight of the day was that it was clear enough to see several of the islands off the coast with Santa Catalina being almost smog/haze free viewing. I was surprised by goats rampaging non stop at high speed along a traverse just below me on the way down from the top. They seem to run faster than a greyhound and especially over the uneven alpine terrain. Another unusual surprise were the two items I collected (along with all the trail garbage). One was a very nice warm watch cap and the other was a Victoria Secret well padded bra. The cap was probably lost on the way down and not sure how a bra would get left behind. It was unseasonably chilly there.
Back home by 4p. I like that this trip starts the year's hiking and backpacking season and is worthwhile even if you don't have the cake and ice cream I had waiting for me.
More info: www.summitpost.org/returns-to-mt-baldy-goats-groans-and-helping-each-other-out/503051