Mt. Baldy was the first peak I hiked and on my initial attempt I only made it half way. 🙁 I started on a warm, late Saturday morning with my brother and I hadn't hiked high elevations in a few years so it wiped me out! I only made it to Ski Hut where I promptly took a nap and we descended back down the way we came to Manker Flats. We decided to try it again the following weekend and take two was a successful summit for me!

Take 2 took place on an early-ish (9:00 AM) Friday morning in late June and the day was warm, sunny, and clear. The route we took began at Manker Flats up to Ski Hut, then up Baldy Bowl trail and down Devil's Backbone for the descent. The trail starts as an obscure off-shoot from a dirt road and it maintains a moderately steep grade most of the way to the Ski Hut where there is a steadily flowing stream where we collected and filtered water. From there we continued up Baldy Bowl Trail that felt like a grueling rhythm of steep sections and level ridge lines as we ascended in elevation. When we finally reached the top, the air was clear, the sun was beaming, and there was breeze, but not a strong wind. There were sections of loose rock on both the way up and the way down and I wasn't the only one who slipped. The way down includes a long section of road walking for those who don't take the ski-lift from the Mt. Baldy Resort. If I'm there again I'd love to get a burger from the Top of the Notch Restaurant!

This hike was exhausting but worth it and I am so down for the Six Pack of Peaks Challenge! One down, five to go!