Started this hike at 6:10am, 40 minutes before sunrise. Used All-trial app to record my hike and navigate my way, even though this would be my second time. Everything went smoothly up to the saddle. From there the ice started to appear more frequently and I did not have micro-spikes. Yes, I was ignorant to keep going without spikes, but I kept going. As I crossed over to the Cucamonga trail from the saddle, I had difficulty keeping my balance in hiking shoes. Ultimately I made it to the top, but that was not the challenge. The challenge was coming down. As I descended, I slipped and slide down a slope, barely hanging on to a shrub. I tried rigorously to get back up to the trail but with no avail. Luckily, and I do mean luckily, someone descending seen me and used their trekking poles to lift me back onto the trail. For the rest of the way I did fall a couple times, but luckily managed to survive the hike without spikes, NEVER AGAIN, I was foolish.
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Note: “never again” without spikes, of course I loved the hike! My second time and not my last 🙂