This was one of the most challenging hikes that I've ever taken on. Not only was it my first time summiting Mount Baldy via the Old Baldy Trail, but it was also the first time doing Baldy and bagging two more peaks in the neighborhood.

The climb on the Old Baldy Trail is one to be taken seriously. It was a leg buster with almost 6,000 feet of gain in just over six miles. But with that climb comes some of the best views and scenery I've ever seen in this area. I've done the Devil's Backbone and Ski Hut routes and I think the Old Baldy trail one-ups both in terms of beauty and majestic views.

West Baldy is amazing and lonely. This was my first summit and I plan to come back here regularly. Not too many visitors, and we even got to have lunch with the whole peak to ourselves. Once you head down West Baldy, the ascent to Mount Baldy seemed effortless. The final ascent coming this way is much less of a climb than coming up Ski Hut or from the Devil's Backbone.

We arrived late at Mount Baldy summit so there were not as many people, which made this trip even more special than it already was. Our final summit was Mount Harwood. If you want to get a good idea of what it might be like to be on another planet, then take this little side trip up to this beautiful but barren peak. Like West Baldy, we had Harwood all to ourselves. After that, it was down the Devil's Backbone, a stop at The Notch and back to the car. Needless to say, we were spent but it was worth it and I'm looking forward to doing it again.

Five down, three to go. Next up, Mount San Bernardino Peak.