1/21/21 A relaxing hike with Dad up the Baldy Bowl trail to the Ski Hut on a beautiful January day. There was just enough snow to make it feel like winter but not enough to slow us down.
1 Starting out on the San Antonio Falls trail on a crisp but clear January morning.
2 The waterfall is low but still flowing.
3 Heading up the Baldy Bowl trail. Always nice singletrack.
4 Nice views of Baldy Bowl.
5As we get over 7500' the trail is still dry, quite a contrast to our hike in 2016. Dad's picture of me a little closer to the Bowl.
6 It's a steady, moderately steep climb. This is Dad's first time at altitude since turning 82. No problem!
7I love the views with the reddish shrubs contrasting with the cold, austere tones of the landscape and evergreens. A nice contrast of colors as we're almost to the Ski Hut.
8A nice break here for lunch. It's about 25 degrees warmer than the last time I was here. Made it to the Ski Hut at around 8,300'.
9 Dad eating lunch and taking in the fantastic view.
10 We try a timed selfie with mixed results.
11Barry heading up the slope at about 8300'. After lunch, we head a little bit further up the trail from the Ski Hut.
12 And the clouds are rolling in over the ridge, adding to the ambiance.
13 We're starting to get into some heavier snow as Dad powers along.
14 It's an interesting mix of clear and clouds, dry and snow.
15Here he comes. He made it to the rim and back in about 30 minutes. Dad stops at around 8,500', and I dash the rest of the way up to the ridge and then back down. Dad had taken a bit of a detour, but he's none the worse for wear, and we start heading down.
16 Dad making his way back down.
17On the way down, the packed snow is getting a bit slippery with the falling temperature. Almost back to the Ski Hut.
18 We end up making it all the way back down to the car in the last of the daylight. End to another great day on Baldy!