Make a left at Falls Road. Baldy) via the Devil's Backbone is classic for hikers on the San Gabriel Mountains where Mt. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. You know your body and hiking experience better than your friends. Via Ski Hut Its a good idea to print out a map of the loop to give you an idea of the trail. We did it Dad! We made it! Baldy Road come into view, a reassuring sign to our tired feet and bodies that we were almost home! WATER CHECK WILL BE PERFORMED. The hike to the summit of Mt. Turn left on the trail and head west toward the summit of Mt. 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. Baldy) 43,120 views Oct 11, 2015 138 Dislike Share Prouisorsapientiae 6.65K subscribers This section of Devil's Backbone Trail is. Baldy Road. It begins at Baldy Notch and ends at Mt. Good description of hiking Mt Baldy via the Devils Backbone Trail. Dan's Mt. San Gabriel Mountains. As we came upon the Ski Hut, the trail at this point had leveled off a bit and although still had dips and turns, it was not nearly as steep or Cree covered as the previous part of the route had been. Waterproof Hiking Boots/Shoes or Snow Shoesgood grip (Required) Turn left on Baseline Road. Above the Ski Hut, the trail hits a rocky patch. Baldy Road. There is a white gate and blue porta-potty to landmark the start. Approx. As we hiked along he told us of hikers who take this route in the winter months, hiking through the snow. Hand Warmers (Optional) Baldy in the Summer #mtbaldy #mtsanantonio #hiking #mountainclimbing #sixpackofpeaks #socalhiking #socal #solohiker #femalehiker #outdoors". Take some enough snacks & a lunch (trail mix, nuts, granola bars, fruit, etc.) Baldy via the Devils Backbone as an out and back, with or without the ski lift. The Jacket (Must be familiarthe layering system) Baldy, across neighboring Mt. The camaraderie of joining a select few who have hiked to the summit of Mt. Maybe you'd like to add it as a new route. Baldy. 1. Poway, CA, Hike it! Harwood. I recommend the San Antonio Ski Hut Trail, which has a sign along the way down that says Baldy Bowl Trail, for a descent route. Baldy (via Devils Backbone) not only takes you to the top of Mt. Why not combine some of the routes into a big loop? Aurelia Squire Harwood was a conservationist, educator, and first female President of the Sierra Club. And in fact, I included Baldy as peak #3 in my Six-Pack of Peaks progressive training series. Start: Begin at Falls Road and head past the gate. Baldy Village, which s downhill from the campground. This is Baldy Notch. HIKE LEAD: TBA. After doing this hike I now know why people climb mountains, the sense of accomplishment is beyond words! Dont let it intimidate you. 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. There is another similar windbreak in a much more protected location along the trail below the summit. This can be obtained at the Visitor Center in Baldy Village for $5.00 a day or $30.00 for an annual pass. I must say not bad for first timers. San Antonio (aka Mt Baldy) Loop via Devil's Backbone HIKE PREREQUISITE: Must have completed a LATH hike Level 7+ and up with no problem. Occasionally, you have to climb up big boulders with no margin of errors. Windbreaker HIKE WALKTHROUGH:San Antonio Peak aka Mt. His name was Sam. The views are spectacular, the hiking is strenuous! As an update to the previous information: The Mount Baldy Ski Lift runs 7 days a week and tickets may be booked in advance. Many choose to cut uphill in a narrow switchback pattern to ensure their footing. Thermos (underlayer to keep warm Optional) However they give very complicated directions and we dont recommend that you use them. The cost of the lift is $25 round trip for adults, $20 for youths age 13 to 17, $15 for children under 12 (must be at least 40 tall), and $15 for seniors over 65 (prices as of 2018). Gloves The Baldy Bowl appears on the left and the trail to the summit with patches of leftover snow straight ahead. When you take the turn off to the left off of the fire road, head up the trail that goes to the Sierra Club Ski Hut. 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! MEETING TIME: 7:00am -7:20am (Please be there on time). Baldy is one of the most prominent mountains with some amazing 360 degree views over Southern California. On the day we hiked, the daytime temp was low 80s, although the 14 mph winds kept it very comfortable. Mount Baldy and the Devil's Backbone has been on my to do list ever since my husband and I moved to Los Angeles. Harwood can be seen in the background. As mentioned earlier, the trail-head start was right across from the campground on Mt. She says she was late to join up with a group of friends at the start of the hike. In addition, as Level 9experienced hikers, you must already have a good idea what to pack for these more challenging hikes. Located in the Angeles National Forest, Mt. He does the same, and as we do, the emotions of the day take over and I choke up as my son says. The trail is an 11.2-mile loop with nearly 4000 feet of vertical elevation gain to the 10,064-foot summit of Mt. Mt Baldy Trail: My neighbor, Jose, standing on a large rock outcrop near the end of the Devil's Backbone section of the trail. 4.5 miles: You have reached Mt. Baldy: 1 - The Devil's Backbone trail approaches the summit from the east. The gentler access road is to the left of this trail, and it snakes up the ridge rather than going straight up. That snow covered area in the distance is Mt Baldy's lower, Western Summit. Follow any of the ski runs west to the top or the ski area boundry. You will come to a distinct flat spot, about 3/8 of a mile below the Baldy Notch Trail. I started to notice something else as we ascended towards the backbone, I realized how much I was in the moment on this hike, how I hadnt thought about the regular concerns of the day, lifes worries, the what ifs and the I should of, would of could ofs that most of us contemplate in our daily lives. Contact the ski resort directly for more information and booking. From Baldy Notch, you take a very steep trail up towards the beginning of the Devils backbone. The trail to the summit begins at Manker Flats trailhead and we take the winding fire road up to Baldy Notch at which we will take a break. 76. Eventually, the climb up the SE Ridge meets the Baldy Notch Trail, just SE of the summit of Mt. As we trekked along our buddy Sam that we met on the summit called out our names and soon was striding past us and down the trail. We went in regular gym clothes, not knowing that we were in for a surprise. four fried poppers, mildly spicy jalapeno halves filled with cheddar cheese There is no serious danger during the day in the summer, but the trail could be difficult at night or in snow. Some hikers choose to go this route in order to find a WWII fighter plane that had crashed in the mountains after getting lost in the fog during a training mission back in he day. Harwood. Baldy, San Gabriel Mountains, California Soon we were hearing the roar of San Antonio Falls, the same falls we had first encountered on our ascent. We went through the Devils Backbone and the pictures that are shown online is not the scary part! This is a remarkably narrow rising ridgeline spine with significant drop-offs on each side, connecting Baldy Notch to the summit. Part of the ridge is only two inches wide (which I call the Mouse Walk, after the Cat's Walk on Casaval Ridge of Mt. We recommend purchasing an annual pass ($30) and a second vehicle pass for an additional $5, which totals $35 for two annual passes. In 1.8 miles, turn right onto Mt. 2.8 miles: The trail reaches the summit. Baldy Road. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. 910 N. Mountain Ave Difficulty: Strenuous. It is much easier to return to Manker Flat, even though you lose some altitude. On the access road from Manker Flat (Falls Road), the route is gentle and unambiguious. for about 7 miles to the Village and another 3 miles up to the Ski lifts. 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. 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. All of a sudden, you can see Baldy Notch. There are numerous trails to the top of Mt. Cheddar Poppers. San Antonio. Harwood, continuing toward a saddle between Mt Baldy and Mt Harwood. The trail begins on a fire road. This is the ridge that you will follow all the way up and is the SE Ridge, called Register Ridge, that goes up toward the summit of Mt. An Adventure Pass parking permit. San Antonio or as Southern Californians fondly call it Mt. I am not sure about the chairlift regulations. Double Peak Mountain, San Marcos , CA 07/04/2017 : Hiker Therapy, Beach Hike! Please note, that we have high, experienced expectations for Level 9hikers. The Laguna Mountains: BIg Laguna Loop Hike via the Sunset, BIg Laguna and Pacific Crest Trails: 07/04/2015New Research Suggests Nature Walks are Good for Your Brain. http://latrailhikers.com/about/hike-levels/, https://www.facebook.com/latrailhikers/events, http://socalhiker.net/hiking-mt-san-antonio-baldy-loop-trail/, http://www.modernhiker.com/2007/11/22/hiking-mount-san-antonio-mount-baldy-and-mount-harwood/, http://www.everytrail.com/guide/mt-san-antonio-baldy-loop, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_San_Antonio. Make sure you pack an extra water or tablets of electrolytes. You will start to see the ski lift on your right and as you look up the ski lodge marking Baldy Notch and the 3.6 mile point of your hike. REAL TRAIL NAME: Mt Baldy Summit from The Notch via Devils Backbone Trail, MEETING TIME: 7:00am -7:20am (Please be there on time), MEETING LOCATION: Turn left on the trail and head west toward the summit of Mt. Whitney. This trail boasts s Some people choose to start hiking from here and hike straight up beneath the ski lifts, but this trail is unnecessarily steep and loose, and signs warn that the parking lot gate is locked at 6:30pm. When you take the turn off to the left off of the fire road, head up the trail that goes to the Sierra Club Ski Hut. What is Hiker Therapy and how did it evolve? This hike is the easiest way up to Mt Baldy, however remembers it starts and stays in high elevation, so some people may experience altitude sickness.