ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST, CA :: There are two ways to reach the 10,064′ summit of Mt. Baldy. You can suffer over a long 13.6 mile loop that climbs 3500′ in elevation, or you can take a ski lift up to the restaurant at Baldy Notch and hike a 6.4 mile loop that climbs a much easier 2200′ in elevation. Of course, I chose the second option.
The lift is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, and the trip up and down costs $18. From there, it’s a very steep climb up 800′ to the top of the Turkey Chute and the start of the Devil’s Backbone trail. This part of the trail traces a thin ridge and along some pretty precipitous slopes that made me a little dizzy at times. Several gnarled trees are witnesses to the fierce winds and thunderstorms that occur up here.
Nearly at the top, I encountered a guy on his second ascent in the same day (and using the 13.6 mile trail)! He was training for an ultra, but his leg muscles had cramped up and he was concerned about his electrolytes. When asked, I told him I didn’t have any salt pills or sports drinks. I offered him a Clif bar I had in my pack, but since it was all I had, he declined. He was able to stretch out the cramps and together we ascented and we talked for a while about his insane sport.
As the mountain’s name suggests, the summit area is wide and bald. There were a few rings of rock built to shelter campers from the wind, but the weather was perfect today. Views all around, but the smog and nonprominent summit made it less than ideal. Still, it was only my second time above 10,000 feet and I thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being on top of the world. Back at the restaurant, I also thoroughly enjoyed the best tasting hot roast beef sandwich with cheese and grilled onions on rye. Yum!
The lift is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, and the trip up and down costs $18. From there, it’s a very steep climb up 800′ to the top of the Turkey Chute and the start of the Devil’s Backbone trail. This part of the trail traces a thin ridge and along some pretty precipitous slopes that made me a little dizzy at times. Several gnarled trees are witnesses to the fierce winds and thunderstorms that occur up here.
Nearly at the top, I encountered a guy on his second ascent in the same day (and using the 13.6 mile trail)! He was training for an ultra, but his leg muscles had cramped up and he was concerned about his electrolytes. When asked, I told him I didn’t have any salt pills or sports drinks. I offered him a Clif bar I had in my pack, but since it was all I had, he declined. He was able to stretch out the cramps and together we ascented and we talked for a while about his insane sport.
As the mountain’s name suggests, the summit area is wide and bald. There were a few rings of rock built to shelter campers from the wind, but the weather was perfect today. Views all around, but the smog and nonprominent summit made it less than ideal. Still, it was only my second time above 10,000 feet and I thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being on top of the world. Back at the restaurant, I also thoroughly enjoyed the best tasting hot roast beef sandwich with cheese and grilled onions on rye. Yum!
