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I plan on hiking (mostly off trail) up the complete south ridge of Mt. Baldy (in SoCal) tomorrow (Saturday, August 29). Has anyone done it? How is it? I plan on starting from Manker Flats at around 6AM, so let me know if you are interested.

Is that the traverse to Iron Mtn? I thought that's more the West ridge though? I don't immediately recall a south ridge.

If it is the one to Iron Mtn, I wouldn't drop down there because of the Morris fire.

I only south ridge I could see is the Register Ridge route; maybe that's what you mean?

You mean the ridge just west of San Antonio Falls, that reaches the west edge of the Bowl? Haven't done it but it looks straightforward enough, almost certainly easier than the shortcut alongside the falls that some people take on their way to the Bowl, and much less distance than the Bear Canyon trail. Carry plenty of water (and a little salt), of course.

Yes, Nartreb, that's it. What I am calling the "south ridge" is the next ridge west of Register Ridge. The Ski Hut trail merges with the upper section of the south ridge.

sampage wrote:Yes, Nartreb, that's it. What I am calling the "south ridge" is the next ridge west of Register Ridge. The Ski Hut trail merges with the upper section of the south ridge.

Got it!

Ok, I'll answer my own question now:

The ridge I am calling the south ridge is the one the ski hut trail finishes on. From Manker Flats, I descended about 100 yards, turned right on the residential road, and slid my way down to the stream bed. Then I groveled up the line of least resistance (which turned out to be a lot of resistance) to the ridge, which I followed to the intersection with the ski hut trail and on to the summit. The ridge (below the intersection) has a wild, untraveled feel, with lots of open rock and the occasional scramble. The total elevation gain is about 4200 feet, and the ascent took me 3.5 hours. I give it a class 2 rating. To my enemies I would recommend the grovel to the ridgeline, and to my friends I would recommend the walk along the ridge.

Yes, TacoDelRio, that's it.

Thanks for the link to the San Gabriel Mountains Discussion Forum. I didn't know it existed.

the complete south ridge actually starts at the Village

I know Miguel Carmona did this from just behind the Snow Crest Lodge. to where this ridge intersects with the manker flat trail at the flat section at the top of the north facing slope you climb just after the the rock garden. In the dead of winter with snow coverage , it was a great hike.
Tony

I hiked this ridge in May. For lack of a better term, at the time I called it the West Ridge of San Antonio Canyon because it's on the west side of the canyon as opposed to the ridge on the east side, which is Register Ridge.

How about:

- Goode Ridge? (for Goode Canyon but might be confused with Goodrich)
- Snowcrest Ridge? (for the Inn)
- South Ridge? (this really is the continuation of the south ridge from the summit)

Most people may not know Goode Canyon so maybe the second one is better? Or South Ridge is good enough.

How about Legister Ridge. Get it? Looking north, Register Ridge is on the right and Legister Ridge is on the left.