With reports reading that there was like no snow OR no one without crampons and ice axe should dare attempt, I figured it was likely somewhere in the middle — and it is. I hiked with my father in law (a former very advanced hiker from Colorado but not recently) and a friend, both of whom had never hiked Baldy before. The trail was easy up to the Ski Hut. The trail was beautiful through the bowl. And then as we made our way from the bowl up to the ridge it was just a slush fest. Good hiking boots and trekking poles were sufficient though.

The whole LA basin was covered in a gorgeous sea like cloud bed. And so the views were gorgeous up at the top. I think the vistas at the summit were the best I've experienced in my 4-5 trips to Baldy.

The trail going down the Devils Backbone is in need of some cleaning up. It was a bit more precarious than usual.

When we got to Top of the Notch my FIL said, “You know, we made it to the top and I am too old to have anything left to prove so I'll buy us tickets for the ski lift down.” I've never done that before, but it was a beautiful, relaxing, and peaceful ride down.