Day 3- San Antonio via Devil's Backbone

6/24/16  14 miles, 4,100' gain
I had only taken the Devil's Backbone route as part of a race before, so it was great to experience it at a more leisurely pace. The ridge trail makes-up for the miles of otherwise mundane fireroad.
DSC03972 Always a nice view for the start of a trip up Baldy. It's the last day of the 3 Day Challenge, and my body is actually feeling better than Day 1. Today should...
Always a nice view for the start of a trip up Baldy. It's the last day of the 3 Day Challenge, and my body is actually feeling better than Day 1. Today should…
DSC03974 Climbing up the fireroad with views down the valley.
Climbing up the fireroad with views down the valley.
DSC03979 The fireroad is a long, rather boring hike that makes up over half the total distance for this route. And it's usually the most crowded route to the top. That's...
The fireroad is a long, rather boring hike that makes up over half the total distance for this route. And it's usually the most crowded route to the top. That's…
DSC04071 Almost up to the Notch and the lodge.
Almost up to the Notch and the lodge.
DSC03982 View of the summit and the ridgeline that the Devil's Backbone trail follows to the top.
View of the summit and the ridgeline that the Devil's Backbone trail follows to the top.
DSC03983 Made it to Baldy Notch at 7,840'. As long as you're not in solitude hiking mode, it's actually a pretty cool spot.
Made it to Baldy Notch at 7,840'. As long as you're not in solitude hiking mode, it's actually a pretty cool spot.
DSC03987 Looking down the chair lift with a couple almost ready to get off. I'm guessing they couldn't have made the hike up here :)
Looking down the chair lift with a couple almost ready to get off. I'm guessing they couldn't have made the hike up here :)
DSC03990 View from the lodge windows.
View from the lodge windows.
DSC04070 Ready to continue on now. The
Ready to continue on now. The "trails" in this area are mostly a combination of fireroad and ski runs.
DSC03992 Not sure of the exact route to take, I headed-up what I thought was a fireroad but was actually a black diamond ski run. Not too fun to hike straight up one of...
Not sure of the exact route to take, I headed-up what I thought was a fireroad but was actually a black diamond ski run. Not too fun to hike straight up one of…
DSC03996 Chair 4 at the top of the ski resort.
Chair 4 at the top of the ski resort.
DSC03997 Finally the end of the ski area and the start of the singletrack!
Finally the end of the ski area and the start of the singletrack!
DSC04005 The boring fireroad is more than made-up for by the next couple miles of epic ridge trail on the Devil's Backbone.
The boring fireroad is more than made-up for by the next couple miles of epic ridge trail on the Devil's Backbone.
DSC04066 Looking back down at the Notch as I climb the ridgeline.
Looking back down at the Notch as I climb the ridgeline.
DSC04004 A look down to the valley on the other side. I'm not sure what those large meadow areas are, but they look like they're worth exploring. You can see the air...
A look down to the valley on the other side. I'm not sure what those large meadow areas are, but they look like they're worth exploring. You can see the air…
DSC04063 Looking back down the trail as it becomes clear where the Devil's Backbone trail gets its name. You defintiely don't want to slip here!
Looking back down the trail as it becomes clear where the Devil's Backbone trail gets its name. You defintiely don't want to slip here!
DSC04008 Further up the Devil's Backbone. You can see the toughest section of the trail traversing along a ledge across the cliff face on the left.
Further up the Devil's Backbone. You can see the toughest section of the trail traversing along a ledge across the cliff face on the left.
DSC04015 Now up to that traverse spot. There have been lots of deaths here in icy spring conditions, particularly from casual hikers taking the ski lift up and thinking...
Now up to that traverse spot. There have been lots of deaths here in icy spring conditions, particularly from casual hikers taking the ski lift up and thinking…
DSC04016 Walking across the ledge. It feels even dicier than it looks. I'm usually pretty immune to vertigo issues on the trail, but I have to take this section slow. I...
Walking across the ledge. It feels even dicier than it looks. I'm usually pretty immune to vertigo issues on the trail, but I have to take this section slow. I…
DSC04020 I look down the chute from the ledge. Highly doubt you could recover here in dry conditions let alone icy conditions.
I look down the chute from the ledge. Highly doubt you could recover here in dry conditions let alone icy conditions.