Iron to Baldy Traverse
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:51 am
Knowing we had a long day Saturday I figured a grilled chicken sandwich, fries and beer from the Baldy Lodge would hit the spot. Well, it would have hit the spot even if there was nothing planned for Saturday but might as well pound the calories now. Met Shin at the Lodge Friday evening and we drove up to Manker Flats where we met Ryan later that night.
Knowing there was a red flag warning issued for Saturday 6am-6pm it was a very calm night camping at Manker. After midnight, boom! The winds came and rained branches and pinecones down everywhere. A few headlamps passed on their way toward the ski hut trail.
RING! @#$@#$! The usual response to a very early alarm clock or in this case cell phone alarm. We assembled our gear into one of the cars leaving the other cars at Manker. We made the long drive to Heaton Flat trailhead. Lots of cars and campers along the road to the trailhead and the parking lot was nearly full.
Stepping out into the parking lot was like stepping into a hot, dry wind tunnel. Mid-November and the strong winds were still quite warm. We got our permit, helped jump start a car and were off. Once on the trail it did not take long for jackets and long sleeves to come off. The bottom part of the trail to Iron is hot even in the dark. We hit the ridgeline and the breeze was a lot cooler.
Bright stars and one very large planet off to the east greeted us as we ascended the "bumps" along Iron's south ridge. "Bumps" That cracks me up. Makes them sound so easy and gentle. Right. So over the bumps we went and almost bumped into a camper high up on the ridge. On his way to West Baldy eventually. Continuing on, some morning light made its way to us on the descent to Allison Saddle. We were glad we would not be descending Iron today.
We paused for some photos at the saddle, the sun not yet over the mountains. We started up the ridge, getting as far as we could before the sun hit us. By the time the sun hit us the breeze was chilly. Up, ouch, yucca, scree, pines. A good sign the pine.
We hit the Iron summit and took a break, had a snack, more photos and eyed the San Antonio ridge ahead. This was going to be the fun part. Finally, some rocks!
Packs on and down we go. Off Iron and onto the ridge. If the east ridge of Mt. Russell was like the back of a stegosaurus then the SA ridge was like the back of a lobster. We took the advice and stayed on the spine. That meant more rock hopping, climbing, navigating. We had amazing views from the wind-cleared skies and impressive drop offs on the northeast side of the ridge.
The notches were great fun after that Iron ascent. And Gunsight Notch especially. We went straight down the middle of it. A fun scramble with our shadows from the morning sun cast against the cliff wall. Awesome.
But Gunsight Notch was not the crux for us today. We knew what was coming, buckthorn. We climbed back up the ridge after the notches and found ourselves with a magnificent view of West Baldy and the remaining ridge. On that remaining ridge was a large swath of unavoidable buckthorn. What I wouldn't give for a Sawzall right now.
Stepping into it, hearing the expletives fly as the thorns make their presence felt. Definitely the crux of the trip. @#%þ!
The ridge completed we had a last look up at West Baldy. A nice, big climb to round out the day. Up we go. The pines are tall and the going not so bad. Further on though, tired and West Baldy goes on and on. Through rocks, low lying pines, loose dirt and scree. Then a small, relatively flat spot as the trees thin out. And the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island as clear as can be. Boats too. An incredible sight. The wind has given us some rare views today and it is getting colder.
Can't stop for long, still a ways to go. Almost blown over by the cold wind. Pants flapping loudly.
A quick snack at West Baldy, some high fives then we make quick work of the route over to Baldy. The wind is blasting and cold. It's awesome up there. Can see for miles and miles. Looking back at Iron, it looks so small. Like one of the "bumps" on the way to its summit. And that magnificent ridge. Almost too short, wish it was more accessible, some fun scrambling there.
Time to go. We bailed off the summit, past the hut, and watched the last of an amazing red sunset. Almost dark now on the fire road we couldn't believe we had just finished the traverse. Planning the next big adventure.
Photos: http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt30 ... 011-13-10/
Knowing there was a red flag warning issued for Saturday 6am-6pm it was a very calm night camping at Manker. After midnight, boom! The winds came and rained branches and pinecones down everywhere. A few headlamps passed on their way toward the ski hut trail.
RING! @#$@#$! The usual response to a very early alarm clock or in this case cell phone alarm. We assembled our gear into one of the cars leaving the other cars at Manker. We made the long drive to Heaton Flat trailhead. Lots of cars and campers along the road to the trailhead and the parking lot was nearly full.
Stepping out into the parking lot was like stepping into a hot, dry wind tunnel. Mid-November and the strong winds were still quite warm. We got our permit, helped jump start a car and were off. Once on the trail it did not take long for jackets and long sleeves to come off. The bottom part of the trail to Iron is hot even in the dark. We hit the ridgeline and the breeze was a lot cooler.
Bright stars and one very large planet off to the east greeted us as we ascended the "bumps" along Iron's south ridge. "Bumps" That cracks me up. Makes them sound so easy and gentle. Right. So over the bumps we went and almost bumped into a camper high up on the ridge. On his way to West Baldy eventually. Continuing on, some morning light made its way to us on the descent to Allison Saddle. We were glad we would not be descending Iron today.
We paused for some photos at the saddle, the sun not yet over the mountains. We started up the ridge, getting as far as we could before the sun hit us. By the time the sun hit us the breeze was chilly. Up, ouch, yucca, scree, pines. A good sign the pine.
We hit the Iron summit and took a break, had a snack, more photos and eyed the San Antonio ridge ahead. This was going to be the fun part. Finally, some rocks!
Packs on and down we go. Off Iron and onto the ridge. If the east ridge of Mt. Russell was like the back of a stegosaurus then the SA ridge was like the back of a lobster. We took the advice and stayed on the spine. That meant more rock hopping, climbing, navigating. We had amazing views from the wind-cleared skies and impressive drop offs on the northeast side of the ridge.
The notches were great fun after that Iron ascent. And Gunsight Notch especially. We went straight down the middle of it. A fun scramble with our shadows from the morning sun cast against the cliff wall. Awesome.
But Gunsight Notch was not the crux for us today. We knew what was coming, buckthorn. We climbed back up the ridge after the notches and found ourselves with a magnificent view of West Baldy and the remaining ridge. On that remaining ridge was a large swath of unavoidable buckthorn. What I wouldn't give for a Sawzall right now.
Stepping into it, hearing the expletives fly as the thorns make their presence felt. Definitely the crux of the trip. @#%þ!
The ridge completed we had a last look up at West Baldy. A nice, big climb to round out the day. Up we go. The pines are tall and the going not so bad. Further on though, tired and West Baldy goes on and on. Through rocks, low lying pines, loose dirt and scree. Then a small, relatively flat spot as the trees thin out. And the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island as clear as can be. Boats too. An incredible sight. The wind has given us some rare views today and it is getting colder.
Can't stop for long, still a ways to go. Almost blown over by the cold wind. Pants flapping loudly.
A quick snack at West Baldy, some high fives then we make quick work of the route over to Baldy. The wind is blasting and cold. It's awesome up there. Can see for miles and miles. Looking back at Iron, it looks so small. Like one of the "bumps" on the way to its summit. And that magnificent ridge. Almost too short, wish it was more accessible, some fun scrambling there.
Time to go. We bailed off the summit, past the hut, and watched the last of an amazing red sunset. Almost dark now on the fire road we couldn't believe we had just finished the traverse. Planning the next big adventure.
Photos: http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt30 ... 011-13-10/
