It was a cool day for such a strenuous hike. Temperature around 56 degrees when we started. The parking lot was full when we arrived around 7.30 am. We took the more steeper but shorter trail to the top. Trail was the most crowded I've been on so far. Took a lot of short breaks to the top. Hiking poles are very much useful for this hike. The summit was pretty crowded. About 30-40 people. The ski hut was open and met a group of friendly mountaineers who have spent the night before in the cabin. On our way back we took the devil's backbone trail to the ski resort. For descending, hiking poles are very much useful and proper hiking shoes would be great as the path narrow and gravelly. We celebrated the day well spent at mount Baldy at the ski resort restaurant with beer and fries and took the ski lift down to the car lot.