Mt Baldy (10,064') the "easy" way - 6 miles and 2,500' gain

I will be heading out to Colorado in two weeks following this trip, so I am heading up to get some cheap altitude.

Meeting at Manker Flat in the morning, we'll take the chair up Baldy notch, where we'll do a last minute gear check and head off across the Devil's Backbone. This is a moderately strenuous trail, approximately 6 miles round trip. Because this is our first group outing of the spring, we will be moving at a slow-to-moderate pace, leaving no hiker behind, so we can ease back into the hiking mode. If you have stayed active and would like an extra challenge, you have the option of hiking up the fire road to the notch. This option would be just over 3 miles extra, one way.

After the summit, we'll head back to the notch, where you have the choice to either head down the hill or stay for a meet and greet lunch at the Baldy Notch cafe, enjoying some of their world famous hiker's iced tea (or an adult beverage, if that's your thing).

Round trip for the chair should come in around $25.