Hiking Up This Popular California Mountain May Be More Dangerous Than You Thought

If you had to guess the most dangerous mountains in the world, you'd probably name famously tall peaks like Everest, K2, or Matterhorn. However, what you may not know is that there are plenty of dangerous mountains hiding in plain sight right here in the U.S. This is especially true of Mount San Antonio — which is better known as Mount Baldy and is a popular hike located in the San Gabriel Mountains about 50 miles from Los Angeles.

Mount Baldy stands at an elevation of a little over 10,000 feet, meaning that it doesn't even make it into the top 50 tallest mountains in the contiguous United States; however, in spite of its relatively small stature, there have been 11 deaths and 100 rescue operations on the mountain since 2020, per the Los Angeles Times. Contrary to what you may think, these deaths aren't just novice hikers. Instead, many of the casualties on the mountain have been seasoned trekkers, like Crystal Paula Gonzalez-Landas who had previously hiked Mount Whitney and actor Julian Sands who was an experienced mountaineer. So, what is it that makes this mountain so dangerous?

Most of the deaths and injuries that have happened on Mount Baldy have one thing in common: the time of year. Mount Baldy is most dangerous in the winter when the summit is covered in ice and snow. This slippery coating makes parts of the hike that may have been safe in the summer months suddenly extremely treacherous. This is especially true of sections like the Baldy Bowl and Devil's Backbone — a narrow ridge with a steep drop on either side that hikers must traverse in order to reach the summit. On top of this, winter on Mount Baldy is particularly windy and prone to sudden storms and avalanches. This creates a situation where the trail up the mountain can go from fun to deadly in the blink of an eye.

The true severity of the dangerous winter conditions of Mount Baldy was discovered by 21-year-old avid hiker Tack Sappington when he attempted to summit the mountain in January of 2023 and almost died. In an interview with ABC7, Sappington described reaching the Devil's Backbone only to realize that crossing it in winter would require mountaineering gear like an "ice axe or crampons, [and] a rope or a helmet." Since he didn't have the required gear, Sappington decided to turn around but slipped and fell off the ridge as he did. Luckily, he landed on a narrow ledge and was able to call for rescuers.

While Mount Baldy is extremely dangerous and great care should be taken whenever you are planning to trek this tough route, it is possible to summit safely. To do this, you should always make sure you plan your trip in the correct season — summer (from late May to October) — when the mountain is least likely to have snow. Even if you are visiting in this window, it's a good idea to also check local ski reports to get an idea of whether or not there is snow on the slopes. If there is, it is best to plan your hike for another day. 

Before heading out, it's also a good idea to check and see if you need a hiking permit. As of this writing, no permits are required; however, the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department has officially requested that the Forest Service implement a permit system to increase safety on the mountain and help track the number of hikers attempting the summit at any given time. So, it is possible that you will need a permit to hike Mount Baldy in the near future.

If you are an experienced trekker and want to tackle Mount Baldy in winter, then closely following the weather reports is very important. It is also important to take an outdoor safety course or mountaineering course beforehand to make sure you have the right skillset and gear to summit safely.