Later along the fire road, you need to look closely for . Be prepared for the cold, snow, ice and with proper sun protection (wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.). Sam the 74 year old kept complementing my son on his creative use of pine by saying, Very Strong, your boy is Very Strong. He would say this to everyone in fact even telling me that I motivate him! During the weekend, at least two others were injured after. 3. A Natural Fit: Therapy and exercise neednt be mutually exclusive. Verify to immediately update business information, respond to reviews, and more! The campground is set in a very peaceful, serene pine laden forest with gorgeous mountain views at 6000+ feet. Peak Elevation: 10,064 Baldy in the Summer #mtbaldy #mtsanantonio #hiking #mountainclimbing #sixpackofpeaks #socalhiking #socal #solohiker #femalehiker #outdoors". The trail is almost completely unmarked, except by use, so first-time visitors should have a detailed map -- or at least study one at the Visitor Center. Literally, you straddle with one leg on one side and the other leg on the other side of the ridge. 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It was very hard for us because we do not go prepared at all! Baldy Road. Just did this hike yesterday. The best time of year to do this hike is May-June and October-November, other times of the year it can get hot, cold, windy and snowy. On the day we hiked, the daytime temp was low 80s, although the 14 mph winds kept it very comfortable. But I must say, even though the hike to the top was very difficult. Baldy Road somewhat exhausted, but at the same time exhilarated, the thought that entered my mind was that this was one of the, if not the, most mentally and physically demanding experiences I have ever had, I was also thinking that it is one of my lifetime and that I am very grateful I could share this experience with my son. If you follow the ridge up, you will find several class 4 climbs. The Top of the Notch restaurant and bar is in a perfect place to rest and refuel. Befitting its "Old Baldy" name, the summit is a bare dome covered with rocks and gravel. San Antonio Devil's Backbone Ridge - Camino of Death Image Gallery - 2 Images. In order to submit a comment to this post, please write this code along with your comment: 1a4b715ba3ed8c654c79b92916eaa98a. Baldy, San Gabriel Mountains, California Besides a hearty breakfast, I would highly suggest an early start when doing this hike, not only due to the time it takes to complete but if you are attempting this hike in the summer months it can and does get hot. Occasionally, you have to climb up big boulders with no margin of errors. San Antonio and back! @ Mt. Coming from the Register Ridge Trail you can go to the right and head down the D.BBone to the ski lodge then back to Manker Flats. The hike to the summit of Mt. But to ascend Baldy via the Devils Backbone, follow the road meandering east to Baldy Notch (7800'), a total of 3.6 miles from the start. Baldy Road come into view, a reassuring sign to our tired feet and bodies that we were almost home! -Mike. Baldy boasts an impressive 10,069 feet in elevation, making it one of the better mountains for Southern Californians to train on if you're looking to summit Whitney or hike the JMT. I'm sure it will be usefull. San Antonio trail is considered the mother of all hikes and one that is a must on the bucket list of hiking trails! Harwood. Both the Devil's Backbone and Baldy Bowl trails end relatively in the same location, so a loop is possible. LATH HIKE LEADS: Carol Martinez & Janiece Cordova, MEETING TIME: 5:00am 5:15am Please be on time. Many people opt to park at the ski area parking and take the first ski lift up to Baldy Notch. The Notch also has 600 zip lines that are 70 above the ground. So many nicknames for one mountain, I know! ), In the picture below, the normal route of the Devil's Backbone Trail is visible on left and the Devil's Backbone Ridge continues upward in the middle of the picture, Looking back down the Devil's Backbone Ridge after you climb to the top, This part of the ridge is two inches wide (at the most), View Mt. Why not combine some of the routes into a big loop? Baldy via the Ski Hut Trail. HOW DO I PARTICIPATE WITH THE GROUP ON THIS HIKE? PARKING PERMIT (REQUIRED): Adventure Pass: $5 Day, or $30 annual. Additionally, you will not be allowed to participate with the group if you are not adequately prepared with enough water and the right gear/equipment/nutrition essential to complete the hike. There is a use trail that goes up to the right, follow this up onto the ridge. The trail starts near two porta-potties at a dirt road junction at Manker Flat. Devil's Backbone, Mt. The I am not sure about the chairlift regulations. Mount Baldy via Devils Backbone Trail in the San Gabriel Mountains, The Best Way to Summit Mount Baldy! 0.5 miles: At the waterfall lookout, the Baldy fire road begins. Baldy Road. Apparently an 11.2-mile hike is not enough for his 22-year-old body! If you are not sure what to take on bigger hikers, it is advised that you try a lower level hike so you learn to pack for more strenuous hikes. Start: Begin at Falls Road and head past the gate. Turn left on the trail and head west toward the summit of Mt. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. 11/20/2020 Lauren C. I summited Mt. Our first night we had diner at the Mt. GEAR CHECKLIST: a 74 year old Korean man who makes the trek to the summit of Baldy two times per week. A hike to Mt. It could get very cold (winds) and the next minute get hot so be prepared!!! The Register Ridge Trail runs perpendicular into the Devil's Backbone Trail, 1 mile east of the D.BBone Trail sign at the top of Mt. It was the narrow curvy edges that were most scary. 4.5 miles: You have reached Mt. You can take the Old Baldy Trail, the Ski Hut Trail, or the Devils Backbone. At the end, you climb to the edge of the cliff with a sigh of relief, enjoying the complete vista of the Devils Backbone Ridge. Needless to say we were glad we came across our friend. At the final push up the mountain three hikers who were just starting the descent from the summit of Mt. Anytime you are reading about something called the Devils Backbone and its drop offs on either side of the trail at 9000 plus feet, its time to stop researching, I decided to stop researching! It traverses a ridge-top trail at the summit of Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains. Turn left on the trail and head west toward the summit of Mt. Whitney. We went in regular gym clothes, not knowing that we were in for a surprise. In the summer, the loose and slippery scree is treacherous. Baldy boasts an impressive 10,069 feet in elevation, making it one of the better mountains for Southern Californians to train on if you're looking to summit Whitney or hike the JMT. My son and I both commented how this part of the adventure had been the toughest which I attribute to the fact that we had been hiking for nearly 9 miles, with a little more than two to go. This a broad area is just after the Manker Flat Campground. Other more daring climbers venture off towards the steeper chutes. After about 10mins you'll see a sign and there are 3 different paths to different hikes (3 tree top, Mt. in 22 reviews, From here, you can choose to ride the lift down or hike another 3 miles down to Manker Flats. in 7 reviews, The first section starts off paved up until San Antonio Falls which is roughly a half mile up. in 5 reviews. Register Ridge VariationAuthor: Mike ZimmermanDate: June 27, 2004 2:50 PM Follow the San Antonio Ski Hut Trail route as if you are heading up to the Ski Hut. . Harwood, to the summit. If you wish to look us up on map quest you can use 6700 Mt Baldy Road CA 91759. Harwood (0.2 miles further). Its a good idea to print out a map of the loop to give you an idea of the trail. The one-way cost may be the same as round trip. Baldy Photo Presentations: Hike 6-12-04 28 photos with captions. Turn North (right) on Padua, follow for a mile to the light. Although the numerous hikes that I had done in San Diego over the past 5 months were challenging and I did see tremendous hiking growth take place, hiking to the summit of a 10,064 foot mountain was a dramatic change from the nearest challenging hike of Mt. Mountain Ave. will turn into Mt Baldy Road and dead end into the Ski Area Parking lot. Hikers can actually stay at the Ski Hut which is operated by the Sierra Club. Park at Manker Flat. San Antonio, which is the highest point in Los Angeles County. Waterproof Hiking Boots/Shoes or Snow Shoesgood grip (Required) Double Peak Mountain, San Marcos , CA 07/04/2017 : Hiker Therapy, Beach Hike! REAL TRAIL NAME: Mt Baldy Summit from The Notch via Devils Backbone Trail *** THIS PAGE IS NOT UP TO DATE *** HIKE DATE: Sunday, October 16, 2010. We even saw the ridge line of the Devils Backbone, which leads to the Baldy summit. 11 miles: You have returned to the trailhead. His name was Sam. The narrow trail climbs north straight up the side of San Antonio Canyon. Baldy is the highest peak in San Gabriel Mountains and the highest point in Los Angeles County. San Antonio was right across the street. For those who havent crossed the backbone, the views are superb! As an update to the previous information: The Mount Baldy Ski Lift runs 7 days a week and tickets may be booked in advance. If you do this climb after all of the snow has melted, bring plenty of water, since there are no water sources until you get down to the SA Ski Hut, where there is a small run-off stream. There is no serious danger during the day in the summer, but the trail could be difficult at night or in snow. Harwood can be seen in the background. 1 photo. Baldy, and West Baldy along the same razor sharp ridge. There is a use trail that goes up to the right, follow this up onto the ridge. Follow the San Antonio Ski Hut Trail route as if you are heading up to the Ski Hut. What is Hiker Therapy and how did it evolve? The summit actually has two peaks: the main peak, elevation 10,068 feet (3,069 m), and a sub-peak, West Baldy, at 9,988 feet (3,044 m). Baldy Road. RECOMMENDED: Have a breakfast before meeting time. Upland CA 91786, REQUIRED: Scenic chair lift tickets $15.00 if purchase online & $20.00 there. There is no source of water after you pass the Notch Restaurant and the ridge is almost always windy and exposed to sun. DOG FRIENDLY? From the Notch, you can cheat and take the ski lift down. However they give very complicated directions and we dont recommend that you use them. For the easiest route, follow the access road leading toward the top of the left-side ski lifts. When on Baseline go west, to Monte Vista/Padua Ave. Connecting with the same path we started on some 9 hours ago and seeing the white gate that signified the beginning of our journey brought with it a very satisfying feeling that we had completed what we had set out to do, hike to the summit of Mt. Where do I get a National Forest Adventure Pass? Much like life this trail has lots of ups and downs and is done one step at the time. My son even brought up how this hike is a great reminder to enjoy the journey and everything along the way, and to stop and smell the roses, worry less about the destination.