Manker - North Backbone Segment
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:56 am
Wanting to say a prayer or two for our fallen hiking Sister in situ, I headed over Baldy yesterday and down the North Devil's Backbone trail a ways. Weather was just spectacular; winds mostly calm except for a few cool breezes blowing from the Stockton Flat side over the saddle towards Fish Fork. The Wanker Flat trail is completely devoid of snow below the hut. There are several stretches of the refrozen white stuff as you ascend from southwest side of the bowl towards the summit.
Old Sol lightin' up another bowl.
Patches of snow are all that remain in the Baldy Bowl.
Shaded trail section across the bowl from the Ski Hut.
Southeast face of West Baldy.
View towards Ontario Peak and beyond.
View towards West Baldy, "Bear Flat Ridge" and Santa Catalina.
A desolate Mount San Antonio summit.
View down the North Devil's Backbone Trail towards Dawson, Pine and Blue Ridge.
This snow was perfect for crampons. No post-holing, minimal hard ice.
My turnaround point. Needed to get home at a reasonable hour.
Lower half of Baldy's north face above the Fish Fork drainage.
Upper half of Baldy's north face above the Fish Fork drainage.
Snow field adjacent to the North Devil's Backbone trail, facing Mount Harwood.
Facing Pine Mountain and Blue Ridge.
Devils Backbone Trail over Harwood was reported as being completely clear.
View towards upper Fish Fork from the landing just northwest of Baldy's main summit.
Another view towards Ontario Peak.
Skies were amazingly clear.
Just enough snow to keep the descent interesting.
The ski area may need a little more precipitation.
A nice day to hang out next to Jabba.
GPS track and elevation plot.
Old Sol lightin' up another bowl.
Patches of snow are all that remain in the Baldy Bowl.
Shaded trail section across the bowl from the Ski Hut.
Southeast face of West Baldy.
View towards Ontario Peak and beyond.
View towards West Baldy, "Bear Flat Ridge" and Santa Catalina.
A desolate Mount San Antonio summit.
View down the North Devil's Backbone Trail towards Dawson, Pine and Blue Ridge.
This snow was perfect for crampons. No post-holing, minimal hard ice.
My turnaround point. Needed to get home at a reasonable hour.
Lower half of Baldy's north face above the Fish Fork drainage.
Upper half of Baldy's north face above the Fish Fork drainage.
Snow field adjacent to the North Devil's Backbone trail, facing Mount Harwood.
Facing Pine Mountain and Blue Ridge.
Devils Backbone Trail over Harwood was reported as being completely clear.
View towards upper Fish Fork from the landing just northwest of Baldy's main summit.
Another view towards Ontario Peak.
Skies were amazingly clear.
Just enough snow to keep the descent interesting.
The ski area may need a little more precipitation.
A nice day to hang out next to Jabba.
GPS track and elevation plot.
