Hike Log

Summiting the Dream – #4 Mount Baldy

Trailhead:

Manker Flats

Type of Hike:

Day hike

Trail Conditions:

Obstacles on trail

ROAD:

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs:

No bugs

Snow:

Trail snow-covered at times – Gear and expertise recommended

We survived Mt Baldy in the snow!! We knew there would be snow at the top of the peak so we purchased micro-spikes to attach onto our shoes for when needed. Boy were they needed! We took the Manker Flats trail as it was not as intense and steep as climbing Baldy Bowl. Trail was clear of snow for most of the way until we arrived at Devil's Backbone. There was some snow but the main part of this narrow trail was clear or at least we were able to walk around it with room to balance. Once the trail starts to widen and you can see Mt Baldy in the distance, that is where we stopped to put on our spikes. Snow covered the mountain and the trail so there was no telling which path to take to get to the top. We followed the hikers in front of us not knowing what we were getting ourselves into. The climb was slippery on the snow and some areas of ice. Every step and position mattered until we got to the top. I wish we would have stayed to the far left which was very rocky but much better than trying to hang off the side of the mountain with your poles deep in the ground and feet planted at every step. On our way down, we took Baldy Bowl down toward Ski Hut which was still icy and lots of snow, but much more manageable than going back down Devil's Backbone.

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