First Light

Peak	Mt Baldy
Group	N/A
Trailhead	Manker Flats

Beautiful day on Baldy, pristine conditions. It pays to get an early start. Left Trailhead at 5:40am, taking the Bowl Route. Some snow up to the ski hut but very manageable. Put crampons on here, and proceeded up the left (sw) side of the bowl. It was 7:15 when I departed hut, and sun was full on the slope at this point. Perfect snow conditions, easy crampon work up to the summit, made it at 8:30.

Descened via Devils Backbone. Already by around 10am during descent, south facing slopes were getting pretty soft. Much of the backbone is exposed dirt. Mostly easy to traverse, only one little section that was steep and very slick due to melting snow at that point.

Had a nice long break at the top of the ski lift, and then hiked down the fire road back to parking. Snowy for the top few switchbacks, and then the rest is dirt. Finished at 11:30.