Tag: hiking verse

The Highest 2 Peaks in Orange County CA

@serafinahikes

This hike was a long time coming, a small goal I had in a big universe. Originally I wanted to hike the Holy Jim trail (14 miles), but it's been closed because of the Airport Fire. This is the highest peak in Orange County where I live. The traditional way to get there is the Holy Jim Trail, which seems like it has been closed for most of the last 10 years, due to weather, and fires. It is opening this year, supposedly. But I have wanted to complete this peak, for so long, I decided now was the time. I was prepared to hike 24 miles if need be. But as events began to unfold it would prove to be a much shorter adventure than I had anticipated.

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.