by Nancy Beverly, story and photos
June gloom, hot sun, pine trees, vast vistas, wallflowers, and hail (yes, HAIL) were all part of our trek to Mt. Baldy on June 13. Dora got us on the trail early – 7:45 – and we needed all morning and into the afternoon to make it to the peak at 10,064’. Yours truly has done this hike before and knew it was challenging, but my goodness, the steepness after the ski hut is not to be underestimated. Pass the oxygen, please.
Fourteen of us made it to the top – in fact, six first-timers were in our group, plus Heather S., the veteran hiker of the group, impressed everyone with her stamina and was christened Rock Star of our hike. The hail near the top and during our topside lunch break (no lightning or thunder) did not break the spirits of anyone, old-timers or newcomers alike. I serenaded the group with an off-key rendition of “Walking in a Winter Wonderland,” just to add humor to the pea-sized pelting of white we were getting.
After lunch we carefully inched our way down the eastern flank, trekked across Devil’s Backbone, and then some of us bought ski lift passes for the final descent while some continued on foot. Everyone made it back in good time. All in all, an excellent and breath-taking (literally) day!
