Heading up the Mystic Canyon Trail means an immediate steep climb before coming to a nice view of the San Gabriel valley below, then it turns into a nice trail up the canyon sides. After a very short photo break at a junction, I saw the sign for Punkout hill, I had heard of this steep incline up the side of 2670 so I took the challenge. Connecting with the Morgan Truck Trail again, I wandered around the side of 2670 and spotted the use trail going up the north side. It's an unremarkable summit although it does have very nice views. I spent a while looking around for a benchmark but could not find one.
From there the trail goes past a high ridgeline - looks like another couple of peaks from the other side - and gets a bit more overgrown. I also found snow on the north side of the ridge, so I stopped to put on the Microspikes. They weren't a need, but since I brought them I figured I should use them and they do make for faster walking since I don't have to plan out each step. There are some great views along this route, and upon reaching the firebreak to 3397 it's just spectacular. The amount of snow in the mountains was stunning and the view goes for miles each direction. I walked up the snow covered hill to the peak, and when I arrived there I realized that I forgot to pack a couple of things - a lighter for my Jetboil, the charger for my camera battery and a tyvek sit pad. The latter was OK since I found a rock cairn holding a summit register but no flame meant no hot cocoa this day and I had my phone as a backup camera. I was the first person to leave tracks to the summit on this day, and also the first signature in the book since September. That seems odd, I guess many people that visit don't look under piles of rocks for these things.
On the way down I took the regular trail that left 2670, it's maybe a mile longer as it gently winds around some other hills. At the lower junction I went down the Poopout Trail but walked right past the use trail back to the Mystic Canyon route. That meant a lot more steep downhill and my knees are still reminding me about it. It also reaches the bottom at Glendora Mountain Road, which meant a half mile of road walking back to the Ranger.
About 9.5 miles and 2200 feet of elevation gain - Just another great day in the San Gabriels.
