Hike starts on the Top of the Notch Restaurant. (If you do not take the lift add 3.2 miles and 1600' gain to the hike). Start NW following the Chair 4 ski lift. After about mile and 1/4 you will reach the top of the ski lift at elevation 8550 '. Continue up hill on the ridge toward west. About 100 yards after the ski lift, you will see wooden sign "Devils Backbone". Follow the trail on the ridge. There are steep slopes on both sides of the trail. After a few hundreds yards the trail will cross the left slope of the ridge and arrive on the south slope of Mt. Harwood, continuing toward a saddle between Mt Baldy and Mt Harwood. You will see the top of Mt Baldy directly front of you. Continue to the saddle and then on the ridge or slightly to the north side, to the top of MT Baldy. The last stretch is a steep loose rocks. This hike is the easiest way up to Mt Baldy, however remember it starts and stays in high elevation, so some people may experience altitude sickness. There is no source of water after you pass the Notch Restaurant and the ridge is almost always windy and exposed to sun.
Fastest way down is directly back to the East, following the Notch/Mt Harwood/Devils Backbone trail you just come up.
|
909.982.0800 |
