Mount Harwood is the large, unassuming bump one traverses on their way to Mount San Antonio (Mt Baldy). While by no means a major peak for most folks, It still has it's own summit, and it's own personality, with its scree-covered slopes and ancient weathered lodgepole pines. It's Sierra Club HPS list number is 16J.

Mt Harwood was named for Aurelia Squire Harwood, a Claremont native and supporter of the Sierra Club. Nearby Thunder Mountain was at one time named Mount Harwood, until the Mt Baldy Ski resort changed the names over. This peak is known for its picturesue Lodgepole Pine forest on its southern slope that one passes through on their way to Baldy. Aside from this forest, the majority of Mt Harwood is scree, with patches of Manzanita on the southern slope, and stunted Lodgepole Pine on the north face.

The primary avenue of ascent on this peak is by Devils Backbone Trail. One simply heads directly north when they've reached the center of Harwood, and they will soon be hiking over barren scree slopes to the wind-beaten summit. This is a class 1 trail.

The secondary route is Register Ridge, which climbs up from the beginning of the Ski Hut Trail, climbing the prominent ridgeline directly up to Devils Backbone Trail. If taking this route in winter, I would suggest bringing wands to mark your route, if you wish to return down the same ridge you ascended. Otherwise, it can be more involved to find your way back. This is a class 2 trail, and up to class 3 in winter, dependant upon conditions as always.

The north face of the peak offers many couloirs of varying steepness which retain snow late into the spring season, making for a nice alpine climbing getaway when the south side of the range is bare. Most of the couloirs have cliffs along them, which while largely composed of typical loose rock, do not offer many options for anchors.

Harwood's prominent Northeast Ridge, named Holtgrefe Ridge, is a fun class 3 climb with two class 4 sections, which gains around 3,000ft in around a mile and a quarter, as the crow flies.

Harwood has a large, steep Northeast Face that may offer some tough Alpine climbing for those up for the challenge.

NEF dry season

NEF with some snow

This peak can be hiked and climbed year-round. An ice axe, crampons, and/or snowshoes are important if not necessary in the winter months, depending on snowpack. Warm clothes with a windproof outer layer are important, due to the heavy winds this mountain recieves on a daily basis. Trekking poles and crampons are all one would normally require if travelling on the well-worn Devils Backbone Trail in winter or spring.

Getting There

From 210 freeway:

Exit MOUNTAIN AVE. Head north. Once you've entered the mountains, Mountain Avenue connects with Mt Baldy Road. Make a right turn to head north.

Lodgepole pines along the south face.

There are several parking places, the most commonly used one is Manker Flats. When Mt Baldy road splits off in two, you've reached Manker Flats. There is parking in the center between each side of the road, and parking along the western side of the road.

From Manker Flats, take the trail/service road heading west, up to Baldy Notch. From the Notch, follow the ski slopes to your west, up to the Devil's Backbone Trail. After about 1.5 miles of hiking from the notch, you should be below and to the south of the summit of Harwood.

From the summit of San Antonio, Harwood is the high point directly to the east.

There are multiple other methods of reaching the summit, most of which require only slight deviation from Mt San Antonio trails. Under good conditions with hard snow, the north face of Harwood is a hard climb, with the approach starting out of Stockton Flat. Eastern couloirs offer around 1,500ft of elevation gain in one shot, while western couloirs offer around 2,000-2,500ft gain. The eastern couloirs top out on Devil's Backbone, while western ones lead up to the summit plateau.

The Greater LA Basin from Harwood's Eastern Slope

To reach Stockton Flat...

From south of Cajon Pass, take the 15 freeway north, exit Sierra. Sierra has multiple names on maps, such as Lytle Creek Road, Stockton Flat Road, Baldy Road, etc. The number for this road is 3N06. Take 3N06 up through the canyon (northwest).

Stockton Flat is the prominent flat area reached just before 3N06 makes a left turn (heading south) and ascends the mountain to Baldy Notch. There is a knocked-down white gate at this point. You know you've gone too far if you cannot see the riverbed on your right side.

More information on the Stockton Flat page.

Red Tape

National Forest Adventure Pass

Day passes are $5.00; Annual passes are $30.00. Fires in the Stockton Flat area allowed only in fire pits. Best to stop at the Lytle Creek Ranger Station and ask, as conditions will change due to SoCal being the tinder bundle of the USA.

Baldy and Harwood

Camping

The mountain recieves heavy winds, and as evident by the lack of foliage, so there aren't many places to camp on this mountain without a tough, 4-season tent. In winter, one can scrape by with less, building a snow wall around the tent. The prevailing winds come from both north and south, often screaming down from the north later in the day. If you plan on camping on the bare summit plateau, please use caution, as the wind is far more than strong enough to send tents airborne unless they are well entrenched and prepared.

Camping further down on the south face of the peak is your best bet, closer to the Devils Backbone Trail, in the trees. THis offers obvious anchor points for shelters and tents, and the wind is nowhere near as harsh here.

One can also camp at the col (pass, saddle) between Harwood and Baldy, and there are several nice spots here with ample room to hunker down.

For more information:
Angeles National Forest
701 North Santa Anita Ave.
Arcadia, CA 91006
(626) 574-1613

The wind-beaten terrain on Harwood

External Links

Sierra Club HPS and History

San Gabriel Mountains Discussion Forum

Weather from Mt Baldy Notch at 7800'

Wind graph from Baldy Notch

Images



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