Hike Log

Register Ridge Rookie signing in

Trailhead:

Register Ridge

Type of Hike:

Day hike

Trail Conditions:

Trail in good condition

ROAD:

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs:

No bugs

Snow:

Snow free
When the mountains are calling sometimes you just gotta tackle one of the big dogs. Saturday afternoon I said to myself, “Girl, we’re doing Baldy tomorrow, and that’s that.” I figured I ought to bag my 1st peak already.
Now the big question, which route to take? There are a few routes up; some easier than others. I settled on Register Ridge to Ski Hut Loop. From the AllTrails reviews, I concluded that ascending Register Ridge was the better option. As far as I’m concerned that was absolutely correct.
I hit the trail at 5:50am missing the sunrise unfortunately, but that’s ok. Next time. The trail was already pretty busy with fellow early birds. Feeling a little anxious about the elevation gain, I reminded myself it was a marathon not a sprint and not to compete with other hikers’ pace. Steady as you go, I hit the Baldybowl Trail, then darted up on the unmarked Register Ridge turnoff. Then the wind started. HOLY SHIT it got windy and STEEP fast. Slow and steady wins the race girl. I realize immediately why the reviews said descending this was treacherous. There’s no way in hell I’d do that clockwise. It was a STEEP loose gravel straight up climb. It felt like the switchbacks were a mere 10ft before the next one started.
After what felt like eternity, I looked at my progress on my phone…I’d only gone like 1.5miles or something WTF?!?! It was THAT steep and THAT windy. I was stopping for a rest every other turn. After a few strong gusts I was thanking my lucky stars for my one pole. Based on the name of the trail in AllTrails I thought I’d be doing Devils Backbone. I wasn’t sure it’d be doable with that wind. I was humbled by how many seniors passed me on this stretch. It helped push me along thankfully. That and seeing the saddle getting closer and more parallel to my position.
Once at the trail split, I bypassed Mt Harwood and headed towards the summit. A fellow hiker told me that I wouldn’t be doing the Backbone in that wind after all since I came via Register Ridge. Phew, I was worried. Once on the saddle, it was so windy I had to layer up and put my hat away so it didn’t blow off. Once the flat part started climbing back up, you can see the prize ahead and you dig deep for that final push. I stopped for a photo op in one of the snow patches and pushed on.
At the top I knocked out my summit pics, had some lunch, reapplied sunscreen then made my way down the bowl to Ski Hut stretch. I was looking forward to the descent for obvious reasons, but I was cautiously optimistic since I read it was steep that way too. It was, although I’d take that route down any day over Register Ridge.
After a few breaks and photo op at the Ski Hut, the going got slower for me. 3 blisters were making their presence known and I just had to Jedi it and walk as gingerly as the trail would permit. Down down down…forever down LOL. At the end, I detoured to San Antonio Falls to rest my tootsies and then the victory walk to the car! 1st one down!
A shout out to my trail buddy Rebekah who’s also a fellow SoCal Hiker. It was great meeting and chatting along the way.

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