December 2, 2006, Jenn, Tristan, Erin and I climbed Mt. Baldy (aka Mt. San Antonio), in the Angeles NF. the hike was nominally 9 mi RT, with 3800′ gain. I have seen claims that it is as long as 10 mi, I didn’t really keep good track. This is the tallest peak in the San Gabriels, all the way at the east end, with a summit at 10,064′.
way high up
Nice view of the escarpment above Baldy Bowl
This hike was kind of hard, but pretty cool. First thing, it was a really really windy day, which made the temperature variation throughout the day seem higher than it might have otherwise. We started out just past Manker Flats and started out walking up a dirt road. We pass some turnoffs to some houses on the way up, and stopped and looked at San Antonio Falls for a few minutes, then kept on up. Erin prompted us for when the Real Trail turned off of the obvious road, and we were on our way up (much steeper, more notably!).
The trail was mostly reasonably graded at this part, and you start getting some nice views as you go on through the woods. There is a tough little bit right before you get to the Sierra Club ski cabin located on the trail. At that point, after forcing our way up that bit of the hill, we took the obvious pause to have lunch. No one was at the cabin when we were there, but it generally was just a cute little building. There is also a pine tree right nearby that’s been decorated with Christmas stuff, which has apparently been there for several years. Also, as something that does detract from the “wilderness” experience but is otherwise highly desirable, there’s a pretty amusing little outhouse right there.
It was even cute inside, with some odd little signs.
After lunch, we continued on our way, picking our way through the boulder field beneath Baldy Bowl. There were some really huge rocks there, and it was fun to get the trail through this whole field of screen. On the other side of the rocks, we then cut up through the steep forest, switchbacking our way up to the ridgeline. There were some really kind of cool broken trees on this part of the trail, with twisty bark. So when they were broken it looked liked they had been sheared, though I think that was just how their bark broke naturally.
One of the twisty trees
Once we got to the top of this ridgeline, that is where we really started to feel the wind, and we also saw some tiny patches of snow on the ground, though we never really saw any sort of accumulation. Now, when I say wind, I’m talking about some serious wind. Definitely moments where you had to learn pretty far forward just to keep walking, and this was not a pleasant cooling breeze. This was “put on more fleece and zip up and just keep walking!” sort of wind. Admittedly, once you get up to this ridge, you start getting some really nice views. There is some almost meadowy looking stuff, which is really kind of bizarre, and not what you expect. Also, in the not-so-far-distance, you can see the cities of the valley laid out all ugly like beneath you. So we kept edging up the hill, walking through mixed rocks and plantlife, and we hit one , final , welcome flat before the last push uphill (which I didn’t know was the last push at the time, but I’m pretty glad it was). As you get higher, the plant life starts getting shorter, due both to altitude and wind. There are lots more rocky patches, and it definitely feels like you are high up.
This tree totally had arms that were just waiting for some unwary passerby
As I went up that final hill, I began a litany of curses under my breath, berating the mountain, and declaring that it wouldn’t beat me, and that I would win, and other such stuff in the vein. I was hurting pretty bad, but there was no way I was going to make it that far and not actually get to the summit. I mean, seriously. Anyway, this constant monologue was rather therapeutic, and helped me go up and up this hill, and then finally, I was at the top! Whoa. In addition to my being at the top, so was All Of The Wind. The group of us hunkered down at the top for a while next to these stone wind breaks, and then walked around for a little bit. I took a look at the plaque marking the height and at these weird stone windbreaks. Also, at the point where a different trail achieves the summit, there are several of those tibetan prayer flags, which actually looked pretty neat flapping around violently in the wind. There was another group of people at the summit, and wonder of wonders, they had lugged up with them many bottles of beer, which they very kindly offered to us. Well, both kindly and pragmatically, since they had brought more than they ended up being able to drink, and they sure didn’t want to lug that all the way back down again.
Standing up was way too hard
We then started back on down again. I was definitely getting into some sort of pain, even with my knee brace on and using my poles, but it was still totally awesome. We got back down to the car just as the sun had set, and some of the views of the sunset were amazing. “I guess pollution is good for something after all”. But the color of pink reflected on the hillside was just amazing, and the moon in the sky, and all of it. It totally distracted me from the mass of pain that my body was in. And in fact, I was in pain for the next couple of days, but I’m really glad I did it. I need to get in better shape!
The moon presides over a pink landscape
One Response
Nice. I’ll have to climb Baldy at some point.