A Glimpse of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

Long before President Obama designated parts of the Angeles National Forest and the San Bernardino National Forest as the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument on October 10, 2014, I had my eyes set on Mount Baldy. Mount Baldy seems to be the most popular hiking destination for wannabe hardcore hikers like me. Known for being bald,  Mount Baldy is also known as  San Antonio Mountain and one of the two others peaks in the holy trinity of the tallest fucking mountains in Southern California.
I was surprised that  Naomi agreed to go with me  for an exploratory hike to Mount Baldy. The last time I suggested to Kay about hiking  Mount Baldy earlier this year, I learned that the hiking trail leading to the summit was closed after three hikers fell to their death earlier. With the closure of the Devil's Backbone Trail, I waited for the opportunity and kept my I will t-shirt ready for the chance to hike Mount Baldy.
I didn't know that Mount Baldy is a ski area during wintertime.  I did read about a hiker posting pictures  taking the Ski Lift and then hiking to the summit. Some hikers consider using the ski lift to summit Mount Baldy as cheating. The ski lift operates mostly on weekends and holidays all year except during ski season.
The Devil's Backbone Trail, where three hikers fell to their death earlier this year, is probably the most beat-up trail in this  recently designated national monument during summer. Trail courtesy works both ways for hikers gaining elevation to catch their breath to give way to hikers making their descent.
Naomi and I decided to turn around halfway on the Devil's Backbone Trail so as not to miss the ski lift that would bring us back the parking lot where Naomi left her car. Had we hiked into the summit, we could witnessed a helicopter rescue in progress if we were not the one being rescued.  
Now that I know how where Mount Baldy is, I will definitely come back and bag good Old Baldy by all means.

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