Just before reaching the Baldy Bowl, named by early x-country skiers in the early 20th century, you pass under the Sierra Club’s ski hut. The trail climbs quickly up through oaks, mountain mahogany, manzanita and of course, shading pines and white fir. Throughout the climb, despite the frequent standing up rests to slow the heart down and catch my breath, it was absolutely beautiful looking out over rugged San Antonio canyon. It’s really a tall, broad mountain, especially by Southern California standards.

Baldy really is, no matter which way you go up it. How much steeper the trail was than I had remembered it and 2. Two things that came to mind and became readily apparent in no time at all was: 1. The turn off for the Baldy Bowl trail came up quickly on my left. This photo was taken just minutes after passing by the Sierra Club Ski Hut. It’d be some ten hours before we’d meet up, again, on the other side of the range in Wrightwood. We said our goodbyes out under the bright blue sky and off I climbed up the fire road which had now become dirt. It can be sort of hot and exposed, like it was the day we went. This meant walking the gated fire road, which is unfortunately paved, up to its’ first switchback at the base of the falls. I’d wanted to show Joanie San Antonio Falls, which she’d never seen before, and peer down at some of the little cabins hidden along the little creek. After a couple of really steep miles, the Baldy Bowl Trail passes just beneath this beautifully maintained cabin. The Sierra Club’s “Ski Hut” was built back in the 1930’s. Nonetheless, it ended up being a great day to hike! My wife was going to drop me off at the Manker Flat trailhead and we’d meet up later in Wrightwood. Well, as things turned out, we got started a bit later than planned, meaning like almost 11:00 a.m. That’s it, a cinch! I’m now pushing 59 years and still hiking, yet there’s no denying that the hikes take a wee bit longer and the recovery the day after is longer. Easy, speasy.Īll of this area, including the North Backbone trail, I had hiked years earlier, meaning in some cases, some decades ago… It all seemed so easy in my head and being that it was only going to be a day hike, there wouldn’t be a heavy pack to lug up and down the ridge tops.

As some days went by, got to thinking that it’d be really nice to just keep on hiking from Baldy’s summit to Wrightwood via the North Backbone trail. Forest Service Manker Flat campground and had been kicking this idea around for about a week. This last Monday, my wife and I drove around to San Antonio Canyon above Upland, from our home in Wrightwood. That’s San Antonio Falls just off to the right of my shoulder. Joanie and Chris just a short distance up San Antonio Canyon from Manker Flat Campground. Nothing against map apps, I just happen to really like having a physical map as well as bringing an orienteering compass, too. Map to take: Tom Harrison’s “ANGELES High Country” map, 2018. Over the length of this hike your total Gain will be 5,250′ and the total DROP will be 4,700′. In another 1 1/2 miles of level trail walking you’ll reach the upper end of the Acorn Trail where there will be 1,600′ of drop into Wrightwood. Now and finally, there’s a good 1,400′ drop down to the last little saddle before climbing up a couple hundred yards to the end of the North Backbone trail. Finally there’s a brief climb of 450′ to the gentle summit of Pine Mountain. Next there’s 900′ of climb to Dawson Peak followed by 400′ of drop to the next saddle. Once on the North Backbone trail, which’ll take off northward at the 10,064′ summit, there is an initial 1,300′ of steep descent down to the first saddle. Initial Elevation Gain = 3,900′ the first 4 miles to Mt Baldy. The terrain is high and dry, passing amongst wind bent pines, colorful outcroppings of rock, and views in all directions while taking you through stunning alpine scenery. This trip takes you from south to north, traversing the San Gabriel mountains eastern high country. Hike Mount Baldy to Wrightwood via the North Backbone Trail. However, the alpine scenery and bright blue skies make it entirely worth it. It’s a steep climb to the “Bowl”, let alone the summit. Mount Baldy as seen from the Baldy Bowl Trail.

Jeffrey pine leaves and acorn drawing