MooTheCow - Jun 3, 2022 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2018
Took the ski lift up
Took the ski lift and did some trail running to reach the top. The way down was pretty hard on my knees since I didn't bring any hiking poles.
T. White - Aug 3, 2019 8:37 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2019
Not a bad hike
I found the sections after leaving the Notch and before reaching the summit to be far more strenuous/slippery than the Backbone itself. It was a breeze.
RaymondShevsky - Jul 1, 2019 3:21 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2019
Workout with nice reward
Trail after leaving fire road was steeper than expected, bit of a slog, but extremely happy to stop at "Top of The Notch" for burger & fries!
Sam DeRose - Mar 1, 2016 3:53 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2016
Great dat hike
I tried summiting a week earlier without proper crampons or an axe. Turned around at the start of devils backbone, was just too slippery with all the snow/ice this year. Headed back up the following week with crampons and an axe and summited despite the ~50 mph winds blowing over the ridge, very exciting! A great hike that takes about 4-6 hours if you're moving quickly. I managed to jog up and down the fire road from Manker flats / Falls trailhead to the ski lodge.
trexkerry - Feb 22, 2014 6:41 pm Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2014
Baldy/West Baldy/Harwood
Drove down from the Bay Area for a conference in Palm Springs - after visiting the downtown LA library I drove up to Manker Flat and hiked up to the ski lodge and took the Devil's Backbone trail up to Baldy with a side visit to West Baldy and Harwood on a fine afternoon. Barely any snow to be found anywhere, and none on the trail. Trip report is HERE.
conpen - Aug 5, 2013 6:04 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2012
Mount San Antonio
Ascended via Devil's Backbone, and descended via San Antonio Ski Hut. Great loop. I think best to take Backbone up and Ski Hut down. But I'm sure vice versa is good, as well. Skip a few miles by hiking up ski lift. Strenuous, but saves time.
brichardsson - May 10, 2013 5:50 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2012
long loop
great views along the backbone. up the fire road, across the backbone, down the ski hut trail.
Wild - Jan 16, 2013 6:48 pm Date Climbed: Jan 13, 2013
Harwood & Baldy
Up Harwood then up Baldy from the Backbone
JJBrunner - Jan 8, 2011 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2011
Winter
Very fun snowshoeing. It's a very photogenic route in the wintertime, too bad I didn't bring a camera...
MtnDoser - Dec 17, 2010 1:40 am Date Climbed: May 8, 2010
Steep on both sides
to the notch!
Wild - Sep 6, 2010 6:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2010
Dark Side of the Bone
Stunning views of Mount Harwood's East Face and other surrounding peaks, nice exposure along the ridge, and a very fun trail.
We started soon after midnight and had a big bright moon over our shoulders for most of the trip and made it to the summit just in time to catch the sun rise above the massive sea of clouds below us. Took the San Antonio Ski Hut/Baldy Bowl Route back down.
therockimage - Jun 13, 2010 6:51 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2010
Training hike
We used this route as a training hike for our Mt. Whitney climb, mainly for the roundtrip distance.
JEFFS - Apr 7, 2010 7:40 pm Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2009
Different
I like to do the bowl but sometimes will come down this route to save my knees. Then I think it's about the same.
SierraCJ - Dec 9, 2009 2:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2009
3 Times
From Manker to Baldy then Harwood and back to Notch. Great hike.
tarol - Oct 25, 2009 9:35 am Date Climbed: Oct 24, 2009
Great trail
Loved this trail, steep and rocky in spots but it has to be, wonderful views, and fabulous wind-stunted trees along the way.
farrisgl - Mar 22, 2009 1:19 am Date Climbed: Mar 12, 1972
Hiked many times
Good hike to the summit however I prefer routes to the summit past the ski hut, or if modivated from Baldy Village.
hol571 - Oct 29, 2008 2:28 pm Date Climbed: Feb 9, 2008
Bowl to Notch
Climbed the bowl and descended the backbone to the notch
Alex Wood - Sep 1, 2008 6:00 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2008
Totally Brutal
I could go for hiking this trail, but instead I ran it in the "Baldy Run to the Top". Amazing views!
Deb - Aug 19, 2008 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2008
With Child In-Tow
Interesting warm, windy, cold, sunny, dusty hike with my daughter who has found that she really does enjoy hiking more than 2 miles! Her first 10K summit was a thrill for me as well. Actually saw 3 other humans and NO the lifts weren't running. :P
MtnLdr - Jul 29, 2008 11:46 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2008
Ouch!!!
I actually went up the ski hut/bowl trail, and came down the backbone. I just hate out and back type hikes. Anyway, this trail is amazing! I have to try this hike again in reverse. I can't wait for winter to get here now. I can only imagine how beautiful this ridgeline would look with snow!
MooTheCow - Jun 3, 2022 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2018
Took the ski lift upTook the ski lift and did some trail running to reach the top. The way down was pretty hard on my knees since I didn't bring any hiking poles.
T. White - Aug 3, 2019 8:37 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2019
Not a bad hikeI found the sections after leaving the Notch and before reaching the summit to be far more strenuous/slippery than the Backbone itself. It was a breeze.
RaymondShevsky - Jul 1, 2019 3:21 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2019
Workout with nice rewardTrail after leaving fire road was steeper than expected, bit of a slog, but extremely happy to stop at "Top of The Notch" for burger & fries!
Sam DeRose - Mar 1, 2016 3:53 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2016
Great dat hikeI tried summiting a week earlier without proper crampons or an axe. Turned around at the start of devils backbone, was just too slippery with all the snow/ice this year. Headed back up the following week with crampons and an axe and summited despite the ~50 mph winds blowing over the ridge, very exciting! A great hike that takes about 4-6 hours if you're moving quickly. I managed to jog up and down the fire road from Manker flats / Falls trailhead to the ski lodge.
trexkerry - Feb 22, 2014 6:41 pm Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2014
Baldy/West Baldy/HarwoodDrove down from the Bay Area for a conference in Palm Springs - after visiting the downtown LA library I drove up to Manker Flat and hiked up to the ski lodge and took the Devil's Backbone trail up to Baldy with a side visit to West Baldy and Harwood on a fine afternoon. Barely any snow to be found anywhere, and none on the trail. Trip report is HERE.
conpen - Aug 5, 2013 6:04 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2012
Mount San AntonioAscended via Devil's Backbone, and descended via San Antonio Ski Hut. Great loop. I think best to take Backbone up and Ski Hut down. But I'm sure vice versa is good, as well. Skip a few miles by hiking up ski lift. Strenuous, but saves time.
brichardsson - May 10, 2013 5:50 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2012
long loopgreat views along the backbone. up the fire road, across the backbone, down the ski hut trail.
Wild - Jan 16, 2013 6:48 pm Date Climbed: Jan 13, 2013
Harwood & BaldyUp Harwood then up Baldy from the Backbone
JJBrunner - Jan 8, 2011 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2011
WinterVery fun snowshoeing. It's a very photogenic route in the wintertime, too bad I didn't bring a camera...
MtnDoser - Dec 17, 2010 1:40 am Date Climbed: May 8, 2010
Steep on both sidesto the notch!
Wild - Sep 6, 2010 6:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2010
Dark Side of the BoneStunning views of Mount Harwood's East Face and other surrounding peaks, nice exposure along the ridge, and a very fun trail.
We started soon after midnight and had a big bright moon over our shoulders for most of the trip and made it to the summit just in time to catch the sun rise above the massive sea of clouds below us. Took the San Antonio Ski Hut/Baldy Bowl Route back down.
therockimage - Jun 13, 2010 6:51 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2010
Training hikeWe used this route as a training hike for our Mt. Whitney climb, mainly for the roundtrip distance.
JEFFS - Apr 7, 2010 7:40 pm Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2009
DifferentI like to do the bowl but sometimes will come down this route to save my knees. Then I think it's about the same.
SierraCJ - Dec 9, 2009 2:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2009
3 TimesFrom Manker to Baldy then Harwood and back to Notch. Great hike.
tarol - Oct 25, 2009 9:35 am Date Climbed: Oct 24, 2009
Great trailLoved this trail, steep and rocky in spots but it has to be, wonderful views, and fabulous wind-stunted trees along the way.
farrisgl - Mar 22, 2009 1:19 am Date Climbed: Mar 12, 1972
Hiked many timesGood hike to the summit however I prefer routes to the summit past the ski hut, or if modivated from Baldy Village.
hol571 - Oct 29, 2008 2:28 pm Date Climbed: Feb 9, 2008
Bowl to NotchClimbed the bowl and descended the backbone to the notch
Alex Wood - Sep 1, 2008 6:00 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2008
Totally BrutalI could go for hiking this trail, but instead I ran it in the "Baldy Run to the Top". Amazing views!
Deb - Aug 19, 2008 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2008
With Child In-TowInteresting warm, windy, cold, sunny, dusty hike with my daughter who has found that she really does enjoy hiking more than 2 miles! Her first 10K summit was a thrill for me as well. Actually saw 3 other humans and NO the lifts weren't running. :P
MtnLdr - Jul 29, 2008 11:46 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2008
Ouch!!!I actually went up the ski hut/bowl trail, and came down the backbone. I just hate out and back type hikes. Anyway, this trail is amazing! I have to try this hike again in reverse. I can't wait for winter to get here now. I can only imagine how beautiful this ridgeline would look with snow!