Middlefork Lytle Creek to Wrightwood via Baldy 9/24 - 9/26
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:38 pm
We arrived at Middle fork trailhead at 6:30 and set out on our 3 day journey to Wrightwood. We had previously cached water at two locations.
Icehouse saddle, and Pine Mountain. We were also able to get water from the restraunt at Baldy notch. (Thanks for suggestions from previous posts)
As we arrived at Icehouse saddle and relaxed for lunch, one of our group realized that he had dropped his tent. This set us back an hour or so, as two of us had to hike back a couple miles to retrieve it
We learned after we got home that there was a missing hiker at Icehouse saddle the very day we were there. I was glad to hear he was found We heard a helicopter hover over us that night which appeared to be a SBCSD. It flew close enough to check us out.
Having to retrieve the tent took it out of us, so we camped at Timber instead of Baldy notch as we had planned. The spot we picked easily accommodated our group of three plus the dog.
With a good night sleep we set out for Baldy Notch. I was counting on water being available there as I was unable to get a hold of the restraunt to confirm. (I had hiked up there a couple weeks before and the building was open, as was the restroom) We were glad it was that day as well
We saw only two other people along the Devils Backbone to Baldy that day, both runners. and after we had passed Mt Harwood and making our final ascent to Baldy, my dog Violet decided to chase a Nelson Bighorn sheep. Funny look on her face as the sheep bounded down the side (none of the squirrels she had chase behaved that way). I was happy she had enough sense to abort This was the dogs first overnighter, and first time using a backpack. She did great The only issue she had was decending from Baldy to Dawson. The trail is kinda steep and I had to carry her pack.
We made it to Baldy around noonish, giving each other the abligatory high fives and picture taking etc. but didn't spend too much time there because we still had the hike over Dawson to Pine Mountain ahead of us.
We had cached water there, and had agreed to meet another buddy at that location who had to work and couldn't complete the entire trip
The hike from Pine Mountain to Wrightwood was a breeze. We hooked up with the PCT to Guffy CG where there is a little trail that hooks up to a fireroad that drops you off on the far west side of town (Flume canyon)
The weather was spectacular and I have pictures that I'm having a hard time uploading. Do you guys have a Geek squad section that can help me with that? Also I have two gallons of water cached at Icehouse saddle, and two gallons at Blueridge junction to the Pine Mountain trailhead. If anyone needs it let me know otherwise I will retrieve it.
Bill
Thanks for the help! Here are the photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30922174@N06/
Icehouse saddle, and Pine Mountain. We were also able to get water from the restraunt at Baldy notch. (Thanks for suggestions from previous posts)
As we arrived at Icehouse saddle and relaxed for lunch, one of our group realized that he had dropped his tent. This set us back an hour or so, as two of us had to hike back a couple miles to retrieve it
We learned after we got home that there was a missing hiker at Icehouse saddle the very day we were there. I was glad to hear he was found We heard a helicopter hover over us that night which appeared to be a SBCSD. It flew close enough to check us out.
Having to retrieve the tent took it out of us, so we camped at Timber instead of Baldy notch as we had planned. The spot we picked easily accommodated our group of three plus the dog.
With a good night sleep we set out for Baldy Notch. I was counting on water being available there as I was unable to get a hold of the restraunt to confirm. (I had hiked up there a couple weeks before and the building was open, as was the restroom) We were glad it was that day as well
We saw only two other people along the Devils Backbone to Baldy that day, both runners. and after we had passed Mt Harwood and making our final ascent to Baldy, my dog Violet decided to chase a Nelson Bighorn sheep. Funny look on her face as the sheep bounded down the side (none of the squirrels she had chase behaved that way). I was happy she had enough sense to abort This was the dogs first overnighter, and first time using a backpack. She did great The only issue she had was decending from Baldy to Dawson. The trail is kinda steep and I had to carry her pack.
We made it to Baldy around noonish, giving each other the abligatory high fives and picture taking etc. but didn't spend too much time there because we still had the hike over Dawson to Pine Mountain ahead of us.
We had cached water there, and had agreed to meet another buddy at that location who had to work and couldn't complete the entire trip
The hike from Pine Mountain to Wrightwood was a breeze. We hooked up with the PCT to Guffy CG where there is a little trail that hooks up to a fireroad that drops you off on the far west side of town (Flume canyon)
The weather was spectacular and I have pictures that I'm having a hard time uploading. Do you guys have a Geek squad section that can help me with that? Also I have two gallons of water cached at Icehouse saddle, and two gallons at Blueridge junction to the Pine Mountain trailhead. If anyone needs it let me know otherwise I will retrieve it.
Bill
Thanks for the help! Here are the photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30922174@N06/