To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind
than to be hopelessly in love with spring. – George Santayana |
Mount Baldy – 12,805 feet
This beautiful Baldy is the highpoint of the narrow ridge between Schofield Pass and Paradise Divide.
You can easily see the peak to the east of Paradise Divide, and it may glow a ruby rosette at sunset. |
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Mount Baldy from Paradise Divide
Gerry took this photo on 8/9/03 |
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The hiking route up to Baldy’s summit ridge
Gerry took this photo on 8/9/03 |
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Mount Baldy seen from Schofield Park to the north
Gerry took this photo on 8/17/03 |
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Jennifer on Baldy’s summit ridge with a storm pending
Gerry took this photo on 8/17/03 |
USGS 7.5’ Quadrangles: Oh Be Joyful, Snowmass Mtn.
West Ridge – 3.4 miles RT, 1,485 feet net, 1,725 feet total, Class 2 |
This short, oft-hiked route follows a gently curving ridge across and around a rising crescendo
of false summits to a fine viewpoint. Start on the east side of the
Paradise Divide Trailhead, and hike east
across rolling grass benches to the start of the red scree. Find and follow remnants of an old miner’s trail
up the scree to a small summit at 12,620 feet, from which you can see the summit at the north end of the
north-south summit ridge. Descend north to a saddle, follow a good shortcut trail north across the west slope
of Point 12,700 to another saddle and climb north to a 12,780-foot false summit. Descend north down a steep,
rough section of ridge then climb north up a miner’s trail around the west side of the steep ridge leading to the main summit. |