It was a more or less dry California winter this year. This time last year Baldy was capped with snow and in accessible without significant experience and preparation. This year my ‘partner in climb’ and I decided to get a head start on the 6pop by taking on Baldy shortly into the new year. We climbed up the ski hut trail and back down devils backbone. I find the ski hut trail very challenging because of the frequent encounters of losse rock. Cresting the summit from this side of the mountain is basically a scramble. I remember observing a group of people flying drones over at the ski hut. The summit was beautiful as always. On our way back down devils backbone I found the views to be incredible. We were so relived to make it back to the notch. We rested there for a moment, bought a sticker, and came back down on the ski lift. I’ve never taken the ski lift before and I will definety do it again!