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My old route to the summit used to take 4 hours, now it's under 2
I've been hiking the same trail to Mount Baldy for ages, always following the main path up the front side. It was a solid climb, about 4 hours round trip with a heavy pack. Last fall, a ranger at the visitor center told me about a connector trail off the fire road that most people miss. I tried it this past weekend, and it completely changed the game. Instead of the long, steady grind, this new path cuts through a shady canyon and links up with a ridge that goes straight to the peak. My pack felt lighter just from not being so bored. I made it to the top in just under two hours, with way more energy left. Has anyone else found a secret shortcut that totally flipped a familiar hike for them?
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grayc271mo ago
My buddy Mark found a hidden gully on the backside of Old Rag. It bypassed a huge rock scramble, the part that always made him want to quit. He shaved an hour off his usual time and said the view from a different ledge was way better.
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oliver_morgan28d agoMost Upvoted
Hard disagree honestly. Those rock scrambles are what make Old Rag feel like an actual accomplishment. Skipping them turns the hike into a glorified nature walk and the views dont feel earned the same way. Plus hidden gullies like that usually get people into trouble when they start getting promoted online and amateurs try them without knowing what theyre doing. The whole point of that mountain is the push through the tough parts, otherwise just go to a park with a paved path. Let the backside stay secret and keep the standard route challenging for everyone else who actually wants to do the work.
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