SoCal Trail Running3 Peak Challenge3 Day- 2017

Day 3- San Antonio via Register Ridge

For the Baldy summit, I went with an experimental route up Register Ridge and then down the Backbone trail to the ski boundary in an attempt to get the best portion of the Backbone without the fireroad. It was a steep way to end the challenge with 5,000' of gain in just 10 miles.
The customary San Antonio Falls shot to start the day. There was still pretty good water flow. The start of the Baldy Bowl trail is easy to miss if you're not paying attention. I had never missed it before, but I must have been so tired this morning, that I walked right by it. I was 1/2 mile farther up the fireroad before I realized it. I did not need to add an additional mile and 300' of gain to the day! Dumb mistake.
1 The customary San Antonio Falls shot to start the day. There was still pretty good water flow. The start of the Baldy Bowl trail is easy to miss if you're not paying attention. I had never missed it before, but I must have been so tired this morning, that I walked right by it. I was 1/2 mile farther up the fireroad before I realized it. I did not need to add an additional mile and 300' of gain to the day! Dumb mistake.
 Finally back on the trail and heading up Register Ridge.
2 Finally back on the trail and heading up Register Ridge.
 A typical section of "trail" on Register Ridge. 2,700' of gain in 1.4 miles. The toughest 1.4 miles in SoCal. Thank goodness it isn't any longer.
3 A typical section of "trail" on Register Ridge. 2,700' of gain in 1.4 miles. The toughest 1.4 miles in SoCal. Thank goodness it isn't any longer.
 A look at Baldy Bowl and the Ski Hut in the distance. My goal for the day was to be able to hike the fun part of the Backbone trail without having to suffer through the 7 miles of fireroad. Register Ridge is one way to do that, but it sure is a butt kicker.
4 A look at Baldy Bowl and the Ski Hut in the distance. My goal for the day was to be able to hike the fun part of the Backbone trail without having to suffer through the 7 miles of fireroad. Register Ridge is one way to do that, but it sure is a butt kicker.
Looking across at Baldy Notch and the ski lodge at the top of the lifts.
5 Looking across at Baldy Notch and the ski lodge at the top of the lifts.
 Made it up to the Backbone Trail at 9,300'. There are some epic dropoffs here. My plan was to hike back to the ski boundary, though I wasn't sure exactly what the distance and extra gain would be.
6 Made it up to the Backbone Trail at 9,300'. There are some epic dropoffs here. My plan was to hike back to the ski boundary, though I wasn't sure exactly what the distance and extra gain would be.
 The view down the other side of the Backbone.
7 The view down the other side of the Backbone.
 A couple people coming up the Backbone Trail. It's about as distinct a ridge as you will find anywhere in SoCal.
8 A couple people coming up the Backbone Trail. It's about as distinct a ridge as you will find anywhere in SoCal.
Me walking where the people were in the previous photo.
9 Me walking where the people were in the previous photo.
 Made it back to the ski boundary. It would end up adding 2 miles and 700' gain to the total trip, but well worth it for all the fun of the Backbone Trail with none of the boring fireroad.
10 Made it back to the ski boundary. It would end up adding 2 miles and 700' gain to the total trip, but well worth it for all the fun of the Backbone Trail with none of the boring fireroad.
 The topmost ski lift where the singletrack begins.
11 The topmost ski lift where the singletrack begins.
 Turning around and heading back up the Backbone now. You can see the trail on the right, and then the dicey portion further back across the ledge on the left.
12 Turning around and heading back up the Backbone now. You can see the trail on the right, and then the dicey portion further back across the ledge on the left.
Up the spine.
13 Up the spine.
 Two people crossing the ledge. A fall there is death any time of the year, and there are deaths almost every year. There were two last winter. Inexperienced hikers take the ski lift up and then start hiking the backbone in icy conditions. Then bye-bye.
14 Two people crossing the ledge. A fall there is death any time of the year, and there are deaths almost every year. There were two last winter. Inexperienced hikers take the ski lift up and then start hiking the backbone in icy conditions. Then bye-bye.
 Me on the ledge looking down. It didn't bother me as much as the first time I was here, but it's still tough to look down here. I noticed that most people crossing never took their eyes off their feet.
15 Me on the ledge looking down. It didn't bother me as much as the first time I was here, but it's still tough to look down here. I noticed that most people crossing never took their eyes off their feet.
 Now past where I had come up Register Ridge and ready to finish the summit. You can see the trail winding it's way to the top. It's a bit like Half Dome where you can see little specks of people near the top.
16 Now past where I had come up Register Ridge and ready to finish the summit. You can see the trail winding it's way to the top. It's a bit like Half Dome where you can see little specks of people near the top.
About half way up looking back down at the trail and Mt. Harwood.
17 About half way up looking back down at the trail and Mt. Harwood.
 A new sign that will hopefully help make sure people head down the right trail and don't end-up at the ranger station instead of Manker Flats!
18 A new sign that will hopefully help make sure people head down the right trail and don't end-up at the ranger station instead of Manker Flats!
 Made it to the top! Ironically, I had the most time alone on this summit, which is normally by far the busiest of the three.
19 Made it to the top! Ironically, I had the most time alone on this summit, which is normally by far the busiest of the three.
 Mt. Baden-Powell to the North.
20 Mt. Baden-Powell to the North.
Dawson Peak and Pine Mtn also to the North.
21 Dawson Peak and Pine Mtn also to the North.
 West Baldy and Iron Mountain to the West.
22 West Baldy and Iron Mountain to the West.
 Santiago to the South.
23 Santiago to the South.
 A pretty good view of San Gorgonio and San Jacinto to the East. Hard to believe I was just on top of each of those.
24 A pretty good view of San Gorgonio and San Jacinto to the East. Hard to believe I was just on top of each of those.
Chipmunks again today. And brave ones at that.
25 Chipmunks again today. And brave ones at that.
 Summit video.
26 Summit video.
 Someone came along just as I was leaving to take my Adventure 16 summit photo.
27 Someone came along just as I was leaving to take my Adventure 16 summit photo.
 Back down Register Ridge. It's a pretty distinct backbone in places here as well.
28 Back down Register Ridge. It's a pretty distinct backbone in places here as well.
A deer sighting on the way down. Probably the first I've ever seen on this side of Baldy. It's usually pretty barren here.
29 A deer sighting on the way down. Probably the first I've ever seen on this side of Baldy. It's usually pretty barren here.
 One last valley view on the way down.
30 One last valley view on the way down.
 The customary last view of San Antonio Falls in the early evening. Successful completion of my second 3 Day Challenge. Hopefully next year will be the 24hr version!
31 The customary last view of San Antonio Falls in the early evening. Successful completion of my second 3 Day Challenge. Hopefully next year will be the 24hr version!
  
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