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Mount Wrightson....ugh.

6/11/2020

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I am the first car in the Madera Canyon parking lot, 5:45 with a very pleasant temperature of 63 degrees.  Sharing the lot with me are two turkeys.  I was surprised that no one else was yet here but other cars soon arrived.
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I farted around for a little while as the sun rises from the east as it almost always does and cast a glow on the surrounding east facing hills.
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The first 2 miles of my hike was entirely in the shade until I reached this spot but was soon back in the cover.  I was walking the "Old Baldy" trail and dreaded the ascent as from memory it was really steep but today, the average grade of 14% to the peak didn't feel that bad.  Didn't feel good either!
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I reach the Josephine Saddle, take a short break, think about taking the longer (4 miles) and not so steep Super trail to Baldy saddle but go for the shorter (1.8) and steeper continuation of Old Baldy.  
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Some beautiful pink and elsewhere, white flowers.  The coolness of the morning hung with me as I ascended.
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Reaching Baldy saddle, I did a self check.  Not good you out of shape fatty patty!  OK, that's a bit of a stretch but we are our own worse critic and that's what my self examination revealed.  I thought of turning around as I.....
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….peered at the final ascent of .9 miles to Mount Wrightson.  
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At this point, with 3000' of elevation gain, I was no longer walking, more like a shuffling of the feet unless a protruding rock forced me to lift a foot.  Hey!  Mount Hopkins in the distance.  Next month will be the 1 year anniversary from getting lost and finding the remains of a dead hiker.  Maybe I should reprise my role and do the route again but not get lost this time.
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Lot of evidence of a past fire as I look back at the Baldy saddle.
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The ascent get a little narrow in a few places but nothing that should cause anyone a problem.  Actually, I was aware of my fatigued condition and careful not to trip and go pinwheeling down the slope.
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After 5.5 miles and 4000' of climbing, I reach the peak where there is a foundation of a fire watch building.  I find the registry in an ammo box and sign in.
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The views are awesome as usual although to the north, the smoke from the Bighorn fire obscures quite a bit.  That fire is now at 7000 acres and only 10% contained.  Fortunately, where I live is on the edge of the limited containment line so I am good.
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There are billions of ladybugs and a few hundred thousand flies so the stay at the peak is rather unpleasant and I descend.  In the distance, a small grove of trees that survived the last fire.
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Lots of new trees growing on the hill sides.
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I take a last look, long into my descent, at the peak.  Finished with 11 miles and a good calorie burn.
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    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

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