The fifth peak on my list for the year was none other than Mt Baden-Powell, the natural stair-master itself. I first summited Baden-Powell back in 2020 and remember the trail being beautiful, but also quite strenuous as it climbs a steady amount of elevation gain over only a few miles. That said, I was determined to return this year.

Arriving at the Vincent Gulch trailhead around 8:30am (later than usual for me), I personally wanted to make up for lost time by attempting a faster climb. After skirting past a very startled rattlesnake, I continued my ascent. All in all, I would consider this hike much less challenging than I had remembered, but nonetheless incredibly scenic with stunning views in most directions.

I’ve heard that people utilize Baden-Powell as  training for Mt Whitney due to the many switchbacks the trail features. Hopefully one day I will be summiting it for a very similar reason.