#5 Mount Baden-Powell

I’d planned to hike Ontario Peak this week, but I got the welcome news that the road to Vincent Gap finally re-opened. I instantly knew I had to return to Baden-Powell instead. There was some visible fire damage along the road to the trailhead and some of the surrounding areas visible from the summit, but the trail itself was pristine and untouched from recent fires. The trail’s (in)famous 40 switchbacks snaked up the mountain, and as an aspiring PCT thru-hiker (hopefully in 2027) each step somehow gave me more energy. I had the summit to myself, unless you count some bees at the summit who wanted to share my lunch. I love this mountain so much, and I’ll probably attempt it later this year from the Islip Saddle side to claim even more PCT miles.