I drove to Baldy unsure of my plan. Spontaneity is becoming routine these days. At least it is for me. Usually when I'm unsure of what hike I want to do, I end up at the Baldy Ski Lift because that's the end of the road and I have nowhere else to go.
Manker Canyon probably had a bunch of dead bodies in it, so I decided I'd try one of the steep gullies branching off from the trail under the lift.
I ended up ascending an old double black diamond ski run called Bentley's Dream. The resort folks run a water pipe down this slope. At the bottom, near the lift, the pipe leaks.
Around 7200' the rocks I had been using for footholds in the gully disappeared. The radical slope offered a bunch of annoyingly loose sand. After contouring to the left I worked up a connecting run called Morgan's Grove. Here I noticed a sort of service trail for the pipeline that could be followed the rest of the way up to the fire road. All told, this climb was 1100' in 0.6 miles. But it felt like 1200' with all the slipping and sliding.
From the fire road I scooted past the reservoir and dropped into Miners Bowl. Up on a slope were three healthy Bighorn sheep looking for dinner among the bushes. They let me approach to within fifty feet or so. All I had was my crappy cell phone camera. Doh!
Soon I reached Baldy Notch and started the 4.3-mile, 2000' descent to Stockton Flat via the Baldy fire road. The views were impressive. I had never gone this way before. I could see Coldwater Canyon running northbound from towering Telegraph Peak, and then, from my lofty perch on the road, I watched the canyon curve eastward into the flats en route to the north fork of Lytle Creek. I doubted there was any water remaining in that sun-drenched courseway.
At Stockton Flat I wandered across the dry wash, exploring a bit. Dawson Peak extended its enticing east ridge in my direction. Maybe some other day, I thought.
No water could be found lying about on the ground, so I checked the bladder. One liter remained. I hoped I would have a lot of shade on the return climb to the Notch.
And thankfully I did. The late-afternoon sun stayed mostly behind the ridgeline to the west. A little wind helped cool me off too.
Back at the Notch the backdoor was open, so I was able to refill water in the restroom before hurrying down the ski lift trail to my awaiting car--and that lone motorist hunting for a place to dump a dead body in Manker Canyon.
Bentley's Dream ski slope branching off to the right
Where Morgan's Grove meets Bentley's Dream, with "trail" in lower right
Look closely and you might be able to see the Bighorn Sheep
Telegraph Peak seen from the Baldy fire road
Coldwater Canyon heading east toward Lytle Creek's north fork
Dawson Peak in the distance
Exploring around the Stockton Flat area
Stockton Flat campsite
