Started the day at Manker Flat at about 0545. There were literally, dozens of vehicles and hikers arriving when I got to the trailhead just after 0500. Partially, due to two relatively large groups and others planning to attend a memorial for a hiker friend that we lost back in January. Not to mention all the other hikers, like me, that were there just to attempt the summit. I was amazed at how many hikers there were on the trail and at the summit. I was also amazed at the number of hikers I saw that I knew. Some that I hadn't seen in a few years.

So, first off, there was very little snow to speak of on my ascent and descent.

I followed the normal route heading up to the Ski Hut. Falls Road to the Ski Hut Trail. Shorty after getting on the Ski Hut Trail I took a slight right up the Register Ridge Trail. A short and steep incline up to the Devils Backbone Trail then on to Mount Harwood. It's about a 1.4 mile climb up to Mount Harwood and roughly 2,845 feet in elevation gain. After leaving Harwood I descended about 200 feet before beginning my final incline of .7 miles and 713 feet of elevation gain up to Mount Baldy. From Mount Baldy I travelled about .5 miles descending about 220 feet in elevation and then gaining another 150 feet in elevation to West Baldy. After a quick visit to West Baldy I headed back down and then up back up to Mount Baldy.

During this time I ran into a slew of familiar hikers and faces. The hiking group 3H (Hiking For Health and Happiness) were at the summit, as well as their leaders Ricardo and Maglory Cruz. I also had the pleasure of running into my friends from TRVRS Outdoors, Fools Traverse founders Aar Jay and Jeremy. I had the pleasure of also running into one of my Snow Hiking and Basic Mountaineering Instructors Chris Simpson and his Marine friend. Who else? Lets see, there was Ernie Rios, who I hadn't seen for almost six years. On my descent I met lots of hikers and even had the pleasure of running into a Facebook SoCal Hiker Friend Cari Philpott. There are countless others I saw or missed on the trail, but the highlight of my day was having the honor of hiking up Register Ridge with Miss Ellen. Ellen is 69 years young and made climbing Register Ridge seem easy.

All that said, another great hiking experience for me while completing another peak of the SoCal Sic Pack of Peaks Challenge!