We started our hike at 7:30am.  Mount Baldy via Devil’s Backbone Trail is both challenging and rewarding.  The first 3.5 miles were an easy hike up to Baldy Notch.  We stopped at Top of the Notch for a quick restroom and snack break before continuing on the 2nd leg of the ascend to the summit.  That’s when the hike got progressively challenging and steep.  The ski slope stretch incline was very steep.  The views before reaching Devil’s Backbone Trail were amazing.  By the time we reached Devil’s Backbone, there were many hikers on their way down.  The views on the stretch of DBT were spectacular and the trail is very exposed with very little shades.  Remember to sunblock up.  After hiking some more on the exposed trail, the sight of Mt. Baldy was in front of us.  We could see tiny hikers zigzagging their ways up to the summit.  The last half mile of the ascend was a very tough climb and the slope looked very busy with many hikers climbing up and down.  We took our time ascending and finally reach the summit.  The 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains were spectacular.  After spending some time taking pictures and having our lunch on the summit, we descended on the same trails back.  By this time, the wind had picked up and made it a bit more challenging scrambling down on the slippery and rocky trail.   We stopped at Top of the Notch again on the way down for some refreshments before finishing the last stretch of the descend.  My friends and I had a great time on this hike while pushing through the tough climbs one step at a time together.