My hike started from where the Snow Mesa trail leaves Hwy 149. The first 2 miles is all uphill until you get on top of Snow Mesa, then it's flat as a table. I left the Colorado Trail to head over to Baldy No Es Cinco. Heading up to the summit was a walk-up, but it was slow going at an elevation of 12500-13000 ft. I would take 25 steps, run out of breath and stop for a minute or so to catch my breath, then resume. The top of Baldy No Es Cinco is covered in scree, but the views from the top were breathtaking, no pun intended. From there, I traversed down and over to the real Baldy Cinco. This approach wasn't the easiest way up, but it was the most direct from this angle. Again, 25 steps, catch your breath, resume. The summit of Baldy Cinco was less dramatic, but still rewarding in it's views. From there, I descended back to the Colorado Trail. There were patches of snow that were mostly easy to walk through, although I did posthole in one spot. The hike back to my vehicle was all down hill, but it felt like it kept going and going. In summary, I felt accomplished and had the whole place to myself.
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(3.50)
(5.00)