Category: Trail Diary

Mount Baldy via the Backbone Trail – Summit #5

@serafinahikes

This would be Mount Baldy summit #5. It was a cool fall morning in the Cucamonga Wilderness in October as I began my hike to Mount Baldy from Manker Flats around 7:30 am. It was just below 50 degrees out and the weather was perfect. I had no planned eta on this one. However long it takes. However many breaks. If I needed to turn back I would. I was trying to be realistic, and not push too hard on this one. I began heading up Baldy Rd. towards the notch, since today I planned on summiting Mt Baldy via the Devil’s Backbone Trail. It had recently snowed here a week ago, and I had a feeling the snow had melted off along the trail just enough in the past few days, with the warmer drier conditions, to make the backbone trail safe and passable. I brought micro-spikes and a trekking pole for stability on small patches or snow or ice.

Mount Baden Powell – Summit #3

@serafinahikes

 This was my third visit to Mount Baden Powell. It is the first high peak I ever climbed. I still remember reaching the top, feeling triumphant, doing something I was not sure I could do, but I put one foot in front of the other, making it there, signifying a change in the trajectory of my life. I could overcome challenges and do things that are not easy, such as climb a mountain, if I put my mind to it. 

Beeks Place via Skyline Drive

@serafinahikes

I hiked 12.5 miles up Skyline Drive to Beek's Place, from Corona, CA for the first time. It's an iconic homestead, centrally located amidst the Saddleback Mountains. It was the home of Joe Beek, a member of the California Senate. His homestead and property are several hundred acres. The remains of the homestead was recently renovated, and the property sold, with the name changed to Beacon's Pines.

Timber Mountain via Chapman Trail

@serafinahikes

Today my plan was to take Icehouse Canyon to Chapman Trail, before hiking on to Icehouse Saddle. I had been planning to hike to Timber Mountain, one of the Three’s T’s, the last of the three I had not summited after Thunder Mountain and Telegraph Peak.

Day 1: A 30 Mile Backpacking Trip from Glacier Point

@serafinahikes

I would be backpacking 30 miles in the Sierra in Yosemite National Park. If you're wanting to backpack in the Sierra, depending on the trailhead you wish to depart from, there can be restrictions. National Parks like Yosemite don't make it that easy to obtain permits. You must reserve them online and pick them up in person. The lines to enter the park can be very long, and it's not as straightforward as one would think. I will explain how I obtained my permit, and some tricks for getting a permit for Half Dome when you're planning on backpacking in Yosemite.