monster
Written: September 10, 2022
The name of the game on this hike was to get to Bellows Spring if I had the energy, and even to get to Baldy Saddle if I had even more energy. As it turned out I had plenty of energy to get to Baldy Saddle once a bit of determination was mixed in. On my way up the switchbacks above Bellows Spring I got the idea that a return hike down and around Mt. Wrightson via the super trail would add some variety and I did just that.
Another month and it will be my 70th birthday. As I grow older I am continually evaluating my health, fitness, and abilities. Getting to Baldy Saddle serves as a sort of "standard test" for me to subject myself to. I no longer stroll effortlessly up the trail, but in truth I don't think I ever did. I do find that I really do have to pay close attention to my pace, avoid clumsy steps that stress my knees, and just get plugging away.
I carry my Garmin GPSmap 66i along. Not that there is any need for GPS navigation, but it allows me to monitor my pace and progress and harvest information that I can transcribe here.
I basically didn't get started hiking until noon, which is typical. I would rather sleep all I want, have a relaxing morning at home, and hike after dark with a headlamp as needed. This means that I am heading up the trail when the early birds are coming down.
The route was up the Old Baldy trail to Josephine saddle, then continue on the Old Baldy trail past Bellows Spring to Baldy Saddle, then down the Super trail to Josephine Saddle, then back down the Old Baldy trail to my car.
It was an overcast day with very pleasant temperatures. I have never seen so many wildflowers in Madera Canyon, the reward after a robust season of monsoon rains. I got to Badly saddle around 4:30 PM and pondered my silly decision to continue around and down the Super trail, then away I went. The Super trail always seems longer than I think it will be, but now I expect that. Hiking it near sunset hours allows tremendous views to the south, typically with fantastic light. Not so much good light this time, since the sky was an even grey overcast.
Bellows Spring was not running out of the pipe. Two girls I spoke to told me that they had read that the pipe was running last week, so this is a recent change. There is plenty of water, so either the pipe is clogged or broken.
All told the day was 10.78 miles with an average pace of 1.7 miles per hour and 3300 feet of elevation gain and loss. I was back to my car at 7:56 PM. I used my headlamp for the last 45 minutes of hiking. As soon as it got dark, some species of insect began "singing". A steady high pitched noise like a cicada, but I wouldn't expect nocturnal behavior from a cicada. Whatever the case, the sounds of the night are always enjoyable.
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