Twenty-two hikers escaped the valley heat and met at Big Pine Station for our Devil's Backbone trip. A short caravan brought us to our trail-head and a rapid warm-up climb of Wright Mtn. Upon our return to the cars we were joined by four late-comers, and began the steep climb to Pine Mtn. After attaining the summit, we enjoyed a short break before continuing on to Dawson Peak and lunch. Six of the group went on to Mt. Baldy for a deferred lunch amidst a near throng of people - three separate groups which had come up from the ski tow.
Our return trip over Dawson and Pine was uneventful, and we regained the cars under gathering clouds to end an otherwise beautiful day.
The trip from Blue Ridge Rd. to Mt. Baldy and return was accomplished in exactly eight hours, for the benefit of those contemplating future trips.
