Timing Matters

So, after much debate, we decided to hike out of Wrightwood today and climb Mount Baden Powell. We were getting varying reports from a lot of different sources. The people at Mountain Hardware said it was a bad idea without microspikes. And again, my microspikes are are home waiting for the Sierras and mountain hardware was sold out and weren't getting more for several days. Then we heard from some people who had just done it that it wasn't that bad. So, we bought some yaktrax (wiry fittings for the bottom of your shoes to give a little more grip) and decided we were going. The forecast was pretty decent with a chance of storms later but Thursday looked worse. 

Passed this sign early on...

Always fun to see progress. Hiked down to the base of Baden Powell

And then started the climb. It was only four miles and the sun was shining. The first 3 miles went smoothly and then there was more snow. And the trail became harder to find. The switchbacks were covered with snow, so we basically started just following footsteps and climbing straight up. We lost the trail several times but always managed to figure it out. Finally got there. The PCT doesn't actually go to the summit, so we dropped our packs at the base of this awesome tree 

And walked the 1/10th of a mile to the summit. And what a spectacular thing it was! This is where the timing comes in. After fretting about the weather and conditions, we had blue skies and very little wind. Mount Baden Powell is named for Lord Baden Powell who started the Boy Scouts. This monument is up there . 

Had some really great views of the valley below and some of the peaks that we've already been over.

Feeling very lucky :) Once we started hiking down, the valley got quickly socked in with clouds so we felt happy to have summited when we did.

Got in to camp at about 5:30 and there are lots of people camping here tonight. There's even a guy here doing some trail magic with beer and sodas, but it's too dang cold so I'm tucked in to my tent for the night.

Thinking of those hiking on the eastern side of the country where the wildfires are burning along the Appalachian Trail. Someone sent this photo of the mountains behind Hot Springs, NC. It is one of my favorites on the AT. 

So very sad. Hope they get some rain relief soon. 

Note to future PCT hikers....(Mando and Caylie- this means you :). Think about having your microspikes with you sometime before Fuller Ridge. Obviously snowfall every year is different and we really only needed them for a short bit, but they would have been handy.