Forum Index > Trip Reports > Mt Baldy (Olympic Mountains) 7-12-2008
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crabio
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Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 328 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bremerton, WA.
crabio
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PostMon Jul 14, 2008 8:59 am 
Well, I finally made it to Mt Baldy. Been wanting to do this hike for a long time and now it's out of my system. Thanks to everyone who helped me get information regarding where to go and identifying mountain peaks that I got to see. Got to the trail head about 8:15 and headed out about 8:30.
Start to a great hike
Start to a great hike
Started out on the Dungeness River Trail which is absolutely beautiful.
Recent trail work
Recent trail work
River shot
River shot
Bridge over the Dungeness River
Bridge over the Dungeness River
From the bridge you head up toward Royal Basin
Royal Basin Sign
Royal Basin Sign
After that, you hit the Lower Maynard Burn Trail
Trail Sign
Trail Sign
Starting Lower Maynard Burn Trail
Starting Lower Maynard Burn Trail
Pretty steep but lots of tree cover and it's not that long. Once out of that, you come out on an old logging road. At this time of year, it's like hiking through a flower bed.
Hiking in flowers
Hiking in flowers
Hiking in the daisies
Hiking in the daisies
Now the climbing started. I had no idea how straight up and how long this next stretch was going to be. I used Dr Leo Marvins advice to patient Bob Wiley ... Baby Steps. Pick a spot ... get to it ... drink .... rest .... repeat.
Starting the Upper Maynard Burn Trail (aka HELL)
Starting the Upper Maynard Burn Trail (aka HELL)
Good trail up to the left
Good trail up to the left
Mountains in the distance
Mountains in the distance
View heading up
View heading up
Hiking in blue flowers
Hiking in blue flowers
It's about 85 degrees
It's about 85 degrees
About halfway up I sat in an old bulldozer track area for a rest and noticed something in the trees. At this point I began to question what it was that I was really trying to accomplish.
Nervous 1
Nervous 1
Nervous 2
Nervous 2
(Note: These are iv fluid bags like you see in the hospital ... not what you want to see in the woods) After a rest, I decided that I was ok and would continue up.
Getting ready to traverse the bowl
Getting ready to traverse the bowl
View on the way up
View on the way up
Looking back down the meadow
Looking back down the meadow
Still heading up
Still heading up
Goal in sight !
Goal in sight !
I finally reached the saddle between Mt Baldy and Tyler Peak
Glacier Peak in the distance
2 labels
Glacier Peak in the distance
Sequim and Dungeness Spit
Sequim and Dungeness Spit
Tyler Peak
Tyler Peak
Mt Baker in the distance
Mt Baker in the distance
Once out of the saddle I saw there was still more climbing to do. At this point I almost decided to turn around. I wasn't sure I had the energy but decided to push through it and make the top.
Hullo !!! Anyone home ???
Hullo !!! Anyone home ???
OMG! More Climbing !
OMG! More Climbing !
Up the ridge looking back on the little tent
Up the ridge looking back on the little tent
Looking NE
2 labels
Looking NE
Then finally ... the top ! Well, the false summit but it was a summit no less. What an incredible view. Barely any wind. temperature was perfect. Once I was rested, I was able to enjoy the views I had worked so hard for.
View from the top
6 labels
View from the top
Gray Wolf Peak
Gray Wolf Peak
View from the top looking down on the little tent.
View from the top looking down on the little tent.
Mt Baldy
Mt Baldy
Mt Baldy - Right 
Gray Wolf Peak - Left
Mt Baldy - Right Gray Wolf Peak - Left
Looking SW
Looking SW
Made it to the top
Made it to the top
All in all it was one incredible hike. 4.5 hours up ... which included lots of little breaks along the way. 2.5 hours down ... which for some reason did not require as many breaks. 5 liters of water consumed ... and no pee breaks. Gee ... I wonder why ! Enjoy the pictures. I had a blast ! -c

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bobbi
stillaGUAMish



Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 8012 | TRs | Pics
Location: olympics!
bobbi
stillaGUAMish
PostMon Jul 14, 2008 9:14 am 
great job! i was having problems breathing just reading your TR. my hiking buddy has invited me a couple of times....scared paranoid.gif it will probably take me 6+ hours to get to the summit! next time. btw: are you planning of heading to the lake of the angels soon? also, i'm a former bremertonian!

bobbi ૐ "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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crabio
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Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 328 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bremerton, WA.
crabio
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PostMon Jul 14, 2008 9:31 am 
I am planning on getting back up to LOA ... my hiking buddy has never been up there and I want him to see it. I went last year in October. Cold and cloudy up top. I want to go this year later in August. Not sure what condition the Putvin trail is in though after all the storms we had last year. If I had to rank these 2 hikes next to each other, I think I'd put LOA above this one. LOA is a steep one but not quite as long. There's some scrambling involved with LOA (which I LOVE) and the view of that lake up there nestled in amongst those high peaks is spectacular. -fellow Bremertonian

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Ancient Ambler
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Joined: 15 May 2007
Posts: 1092 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bainbridge Island
Ancient Ambler
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PostMon Jul 14, 2008 12:02 pm 
Way to go, crabio. That's a tough trail under any circumstances, but when it's hot out, that trail puts the hurt on, fast. Especially if you start from the lower Maynard Burn section off the Dungeness trail instead of from the spur road. I'm glad you got the payoff for your hard work in the form of perfectly clear skies and great views. You got some great photos, and thanks for sharing them with us. I still have to get up there this year; your report will spur me on.

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summithound
Climbing Connoisseur



Joined: 26 Jul 2004
Posts: 1766 | TRs | Pics
Location: Everett, WA
summithound
Climbing Connoisseur
PostMon Jul 14, 2008 4:47 pm 
Nice going crabio. up.gif That's a pretty tough hike. Got one of the worst sunburns of my life up there. When my buddy and I did it, we cheated and shaved a little distance off the the hike by taking the rough access road to the upper Maynard Burn trailhead.

Pain is just weakness leaving the body.
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cweston
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Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 310 | TRs | Pics
Location: Manhattan, KS (There's no place like home.)
cweston
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PostTue Jul 29, 2008 3:01 pm 
Funny--my wife and I did that hike many, many years ago, and it was exactly as you describe: steep and hot and dry. When we got to the summit, it was eerily windless. Maybe it's a fluke, or maybe that's how it always is.

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Schmidt Alti-Dude
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Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 1361 | TRs | Pics
Location: Looking for Adventure 201!
Schmidt Alti-Dude
4th class poster
PostTue Jul 29, 2008 3:58 pm 
Don't tell me you went all the way to the false summit and didn't do the true summit. Believe me, it takes less time than it looks when you're up there.

Anything stated by me in no way reflects the attitudes or opinions of my wife
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crabio
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Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 328 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bremerton, WA.
crabio
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PostTue Jul 29, 2008 4:07 pm 
Oh no ... don't say that ! Do you realize that by that one comment I now am already planning to go again ? I THOUGHT I WAS DONE WITH THAT ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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