Backbone II

10/25/11  Another trip to Baldy, this time bringing my Dad to experience the little used trail from Wrightwood to the summit. Unquestionably one of the toughest trails in Southern CA with rugged terrain and over 7000' of total elevation gain.
IMG_0012 Heading up the Acorn Trail from Wrightwood. We were on the trail just after 7:00am. We lucked out with perfect weather even though there had been a light rain...
Heading up the Acorn Trail from Wrightwood. We were on the trail just after 7:00am. We lucked out with perfect weather even though there had been a light rain…
IMG_0014 Baldy Bowl (as I call it). I'm still waiting to see a Big Horn Sheep here...
Baldy Bowl (as I call it). I'm still waiting to see a Big Horn Sheep here...
IMG_0017 Our first look at the Backbone Trail headed up to Pine Mtn.
Our first look at the Backbone Trail headed up to Pine Mtn.
IMG_0019 A sea of clouds in the valley below.
A sea of clouds in the valley below.
IMG_0020 Looks like they added a new trail sign at the start of the Backbone Trail entering the Big Sheep Wilderness. Not good! This trail was hard to find before, which...
Looks like they added a new trail sign at the start of the Backbone Trail entering the Big Sheep Wilderness. Not good! This trail was hard to find before, which…
IMG_0023 A great picture of Dad at a lookout spot nearing the top of Pine Mtn.
A great picture of Dad at a lookout spot nearing the top of Pine Mtn.
IMG_0024 I love the trees near the top of Pine Mtn.
I love the trees near the top of Pine Mtn.
IMG_0025 The trail heading up through more great trees.
The trail heading up through more great trees.
IMG_2497 We made it to the top of Pine Mtn, one of the steepest sections of trail in all of Southern CA (including Cactus to Clouds).
We made it to the top of Pine Mtn, one of the steepest sections of trail in all of Southern CA (including Cactus to Clouds).
IMG_0030 Dad making his way through dense brush near Dawson Peak. Walking through this stuff is like rubbing your legs with a cheese grater.
Dad making his way through dense brush near Dawson Peak. Walking through this stuff is like rubbing your legs with a cheese grater.
IMG_0031 Almost to Dawson Peak and Dad still has a smile on his face.
Almost to Dawson Peak and Dad still has a smile on his face.
IMG_0033 A look at the trail, which drops 800' from Dawson Peak down to the saddle and then makes the brutal final 1200' climb to the summit. We ate lunch at the saddle...
A look at the trail, which drops 800' from Dawson Peak down to the saddle and then makes the brutal final 1200' climb to the summit. We ate lunch at the saddle…
IMG_0036 First picture from the top. I made it well under my 45 minute goal. Looks like somone has added a September 11th memorial since last time I was up here.
First picture from the top. I made it well under my 45 minute goal. Looks like somone has added a September 11th memorial since last time I was up here.
IMG_0044 There was one person on top when I got there. The -only- human we saw the entire day, and he had come up the front side. So, we were the only humans between...
There was one person on top when I got there. The -only- human we saw the entire day, and he had come up the front side. So, we were the only humans between…
IMG_0040 The good thing about having another human on the summit, is they can take a picture for you. He was probably wondering where the heck I had come from with no...
The good thing about having another human on the summit, is they can take a picture for you. He was probably wondering where the heck I had come from with no…
IMG_0041 The obligatory 360 summitt video for comparison to my other trips up here. It's a little more jittery than usual because I've been using my iPhone for pictures...
The obligatory 360 summitt video for comparison to my other trips up here. It's a little more jittery than usual because I've been using my iPhone for pictures…
IMG_0047 Looking down from the summit at the sea of clouds. After spending over 10 minutes on top, it was time to tear back downhill to meet my one hour deadline.
Looking down from the summit at the sea of clouds. After spending over 10 minutes on top, it was time to tear back downhill to meet my one hour deadline.
IMG_0049 I made it down with three minutes to spare! Dad was just getting ready to start heading back and made a sign for me.
I made it down with three minutes to spare! Dad was just getting ready to start heading back and made a sign for me.
IMG_0054 Back down to Pine Mtn where Dad strikes a pose.
Back down to Pine Mtn where Dad strikes a pose.
IMG_2501 Dad's picture of me coming down the Backbone Trail.
Dad's picture of me coming down the Backbone Trail.