Paddles and Poles: Newport and Mt. Baldy
Hannah Fleming
Paddles and Poles. Boards and Boots. Ocean and Mountains.
SUPing in Newport.
California is a unique place to live, since I now live here! You can be in a completely different environment by driving an hour in any direction. This weekend we got the best of both worlds, a day spent at the ocean and a day spent hiking in the mountains.
We kicked off the weekend with breakfast at Stuft Surfer in Newport, followed by renting Stand Up Paddleboards and playing in the waves for few hours. Not a bad Saturday.
Sunday we headed North to Mt. Baldy. The hike starts around 6,000 ft., increasing to 10,064 ft. over the course of 3.8 miles. This hike was not only my longest hike, reaching the highest elevation, but definitely the hardest. I'd like to say it was because Friday was leg day, but I know that would be a lie. Investing in a pair of trekking poles was a great decision.
Part of the hike up to the top of Mt. Baldy.
The descent across Devil's Backbone.
Typically the descent is six miles, the last three of which along a fire road. We chose to ride the ski lift down, cutting off around three miles.
