San Antonio Ridge Traverse: Iron to Baldy 6-20-10
Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2010 11:48 pm
After many failed attempts at the San Antonio ridge traverse I finally got to tick this one off the list. Up until this point Iron Mountain had been the bane of my hiking "existence." Every time I went up that damn piece of earth I would leave its flanks battered, thirsty, and even more confounded than the last....
So when I arrived at the parking lot at 0400 I had this sense of dread as well as a feeling of resolve to complete that blasphemous ridge once and for all. As I'm sure all of you know, the route has no water on it during the summer months and I was quite relieved when I stepped out into the nice cool morning air at the (already full) Heaton Flats parking lot. Tina, Mike O, Mike T, and Lee arrived a bit later and we started up the trail around 0440. It was nice and cool and the various plants and brush were flowering which added a nice scent to the air. We paid our dues to the south ridge of Iron and found ourselves on the summit a little after 0800. We lounged about the summit for few hours waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. Mike B arrived on the summit (bringing us to a total of 3 Mikes). He had overslept a bit but did a great job of catching up. The rest of the group arrived and we soon departed down the SA ridge around 1100. The first mile containing the "technical" difficulties was great fun. It was amazing to look back up the the craggy ridge to Iron. Once through the Gunsight Notch I was traveling on unfamiliar, yet beautiful terrain. I think that was my favorite part of the entire hike. The slightly rolling hills leading to West Baldy ridge proper seemed so remote and untouched compared to a lot of the other hikes I've done in the San Gabriel's. I dunno, maybe I was just too excited to finally be close to completing the hike. I think it was at that moment that my hatred for Iron seemed to melt away. We climbed the ridge to West Baldy through nice shady pine trees which eventually gave way to talus and small patches of snow. As I approached the proper summit from West Baldy I saw a lanky figure in the distance... who turned out to be none other than TacoDelRio!!!!!!! I was slightly surprised that he had stayed until 1700 (I had told him we would be there between 1200-1400
) I did my Snow Creek scream. We re-hydrated, broke down the little shelter and then made our way off the mountain via the bowl. I had a great time! Thanks to everyone for making it such a great day. 
Photos from Mike B:
So when I arrived at the parking lot at 0400 I had this sense of dread as well as a feeling of resolve to complete that blasphemous ridge once and for all. As I'm sure all of you know, the route has no water on it during the summer months and I was quite relieved when I stepped out into the nice cool morning air at the (already full) Heaton Flats parking lot. Tina, Mike O, Mike T, and Lee arrived a bit later and we started up the trail around 0440. It was nice and cool and the various plants and brush were flowering which added a nice scent to the air. We paid our dues to the south ridge of Iron and found ourselves on the summit a little after 0800. We lounged about the summit for few hours waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. Mike B arrived on the summit (bringing us to a total of 3 Mikes). He had overslept a bit but did a great job of catching up. The rest of the group arrived and we soon departed down the SA ridge around 1100. The first mile containing the "technical" difficulties was great fun. It was amazing to look back up the the craggy ridge to Iron. Once through the Gunsight Notch I was traveling on unfamiliar, yet beautiful terrain. I think that was my favorite part of the entire hike. The slightly rolling hills leading to West Baldy ridge proper seemed so remote and untouched compared to a lot of the other hikes I've done in the San Gabriel's. I dunno, maybe I was just too excited to finally be close to completing the hike. I think it was at that moment that my hatred for Iron seemed to melt away. We climbed the ridge to West Baldy through nice shady pine trees which eventually gave way to talus and small patches of snow. As I approached the proper summit from West Baldy I saw a lanky figure in the distance... who turned out to be none other than TacoDelRio!!!!!!! I was slightly surprised that he had stayed until 1700 (I had told him we would be there between 1200-1400
) I did my Snow Creek scream. We re-hydrated, broke down the little shelter and then made our way off the mountain via the bowl. I had a great time! Thanks to everyone for making it such a great day. Photos from Mike B:
We'll be looking forward to that TR. 
