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Summer ‘09 in Pics vol. 6

Mount San Antonio (aka Mount Baldy)

Yesterday I climbed Mount Baldy, the prominent peak directly north of Los Angeles. This peak is most frequently climbed from near the bottom of the Mt. Baldy ski area (you can even take one of the lifts to make the trip shorter, if they are running). I thought this sounded a bit weak, so I took the Bear Canyon trail starting in Baldy Village (elevation 4200 ft). This route has 5900 feet of elevation gain on the 6-mile trail to the summit (a fairly steep grade). I thought it would be a good warm-up for Mount Whitney, which has only a few hundred feet more vertical gain but a trail nearly twice as long.

I started out at the Mt. Baldy Visitor center and worked my way up through a narrow valley filled with gigantic pine trees and slightly trashy summer cabins. The trail quickly moves up the side of the valley and then eventually up the side of Bear Canyon. This is a long, steep slope with sustained switchbacks that definitely takes some work. The trail works its way up onto the ridge, where the views get better and the trail becomes a bit more varied. A mile or so from the peak the trail winds along a ridge and past several lesser peaks, with great views in all directions.

The weather was probably the most interesting part of the day. The whole area around (including LA and out over the ocean) was covered by low clouds. As I moved up the trail, I got up into the fog. About half way up I came out on top of the clouds and enjoyed clear, blue skies and views of the mountains poking through the clouds all around. On the way down the clouds were even heavier. It was very quiet, with just the sounds of the occasional bird and the condensed fog dripping from the trees.

There were a few other hikers on the trail; I passed twelve going up. The top was quite crowded, but most people had come up the other path. It was somewhat chilly, but there were large wind breaks that had been built to provide some shelter. As I was on the peak, a red stunt biplane flew over the mountain and did some tricks (see picture below).

The fog moving in a mile or two up the trail.

The first sign of blue sky.

Just above the clouds.

Two pines silhouetted by the clouds.

Partway up the ridge, elevation 8500' or so.

The wind was stirring the clouds and blowing them up the sides of the mountains.

Los Angeles is down there somewhere.

Keeping just ahead of the fog.

The view out toward the Pacific.

If it weren't for the clouds, the Channel islands might be visible out there.

The path along the ridge. About a mile left to go.

In the distance are the San Bernardino Mountains (left) and the San Jacinto Mountains (right).

Not sure what went down here, but I bet it was awesome.

A bit of leftover snow still on the path.

Looking down toward Bear Canyon.

Can you guess which direction the prevailing wind blows?

Millions of people live under those clouds.

I'm enjoying a delicious sandwich at the summit.

The stunt plane doing a loop.

I'll be hiking San Jacinto Peak in two weeks (the high point on the right) and San Gorgonio Mountain in a month (the high point on the left).

Time to head back down.

This is what I could see most of the way back.

These guys were everywhere.

The fog made everything wet.

I also stitched a panorama I took from the top.

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