6/23/2024:

I received a call from my niece Helen who lives in San Diego that she wanted me to take her up to Mount Baldy.  I was very hesitant because I haven't hike that much this year.  I did Sitton Peak last week.  It's about 3,000 feet, but Mount Baldy is 10,000+ feet.  I felt I wasn't for Mount Baldy yet.  Helen begged and begged.  I gave in to her.  I told Helen that would hike to Mount Baldy with her on two conditions: 1) we will turn back if the conditions (i.e. trail conditions  weather conditions, and our body condition) are adverse to us all and 2) we will go slow and take many breaks.  Helen agreed to my terms.

On a beautiful early Sunday morning, I picked up Helen and drove ourselves yo Manker Flats.  We arrived at 6 a.m.  We started the hike right away.  The morning temperature was cool.  We got the Ski Hut at 7:30 a.m. My hiking sister Delilah was hosting the Ski Hut for the Sierra Club members for their work weekend event doing fix up around the Ski Hut area.  Delilah welcomed Helen and I into the Ski Hut to take a look inside it.  It was such a honor.  This was my first time.  I thanked Delilah for her hospitality.

Then we headed up Mount Baldy.  We arrived at Mount Baldy peak at 10:45 a.m. We had lunch and took our summit photos.  We headed down the Devil's Backbone and to the Notch.  Then we took the fire road and hiked down to our car.

Woohoo!  Mount Baldy is in the Books.  I did quite well.  I'm so proud of Helen and myself.