I managed to get out for a couple hours this morning, tackling the mighty hill at the base of Baldy Road. I did it the hard way, going up what I used to call the secret route. Now it's quite easily found and even maintained to some degree, with prickly stuff cut back and an obvious path to follow. I had a few minutes to myself on top, but when another guy walked up and asked if I wanted to join his group for a whisky I gladly accepted. Of course, at the time I wasn't thinking that 9:30 is a bit early for me to be drinking.... However, we all toasted each other for managing to escape outside for a little while and that made it a pretty good day.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171226/e5b8058c924e8197088ed4ee8ba784a9.jpg)
Part of the not-so-secret trail.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171226/d5b297e22749bab5ee822300f4da4d23.jpg)
The route ahead, which at one time was a fire break.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171226/1e660f5c762c6aef2cedb2c869459918.jpg)
Most of the way up, summit on the left. I was sweating profusely by now.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171226/0ce3abaa2ae8a7370300911208217a73.jpg)
Summit water tank.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171226/0b9840d6ae00caee47d6b772c13f6531.jpg)
There are always potatoes up there. Nice view of Baldy behind.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171226/a13e6d032a37570591b1d018ae2bc548.jpg)
Although I took the fire road down, this is a view of the harder route up.
Four cars in the parking area when I arrived, 22 when I left.
"Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours".
Donald Shimoda