Psychout Ridge
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 4:22 pm
After limping up the Baldy Notch service road this morning, I went inside the lodge to swallow more pain pills and relax. On the counter was a pretty cool map that I'd never noticed before, created by L. Cramer Design.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906249/IMG_5855.JPG)
The map inspired me to check out Psych-out Ridge, which runs westward from the final switchback in the service road before the Notch.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906253/IMG_5857_stitch.jpg)
(The Psych-out ski run is on the right)
A ski run/road extends a half-mile down the ridge, making the initial travel very easy.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906256/IMG_5860.JPG)
The path ends, then an easy cross-country bit put me at Bently's Point, where the view opens up quite spectacularly.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906259/IMG_5876_stitch.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906260/IMG_5880_stitch.jpg)
Beyond the Point, the ridge to the left becomes rocky, slightly brushy, and narrow, all while dropping fast.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906261/IMG_5885.JPG)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906262/IMG_5889_stitch.jpg)
There is a bigger (main) toe of the ridge on the right, which takes a more direct line back to the parking lot. But I decided on the narrow spine option (heading toward the big bend in Big Butch Wash) and found some fun down-climbing class 2 and 3 stuff.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906265/IMG_5897.JPG)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906267/IMG_5899.JPG)
The final drop was covered in brush, and I had already sliced myself up pretty good,
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906268/IMG_5901.JPG)
so I exited stage-left into Big Butch and stumbled and slid my way through the scree back to the car.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906269/IMG_5914_stitch.jpg)
The map inspired me to check out Psych-out Ridge, which runs westward from the final switchback in the service road before the Notch.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906253/IMG_5857_stitch.jpg)
(The Psych-out ski run is on the right)
A ski run/road extends a half-mile down the ridge, making the initial travel very easy.
The path ends, then an easy cross-country bit put me at Bently's Point, where the view opens up quite spectacularly.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906259/IMG_5876_stitch.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906260/IMG_5880_stitch.jpg)
Beyond the Point, the ridge to the left becomes rocky, slightly brushy, and narrow, all while dropping fast.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906262/IMG_5889_stitch.jpg)
There is a bigger (main) toe of the ridge on the right, which takes a more direct line back to the parking lot. But I decided on the narrow spine option (heading toward the big bend in Big Butch Wash) and found some fun down-climbing class 2 and 3 stuff.
The final drop was covered in brush, and I had already sliced myself up pretty good,
so I exited stage-left into Big Butch and stumbled and slid my way through the scree back to the car.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1906269/IMG_5914_stitch.jpg)