The Scariest Section Of Devil's Backbone Trail (Mt. Baldy)

[@Bearwoman11]

I've hiked this trail, and you have to have great respect for the land and nature. I have been taught to give offerings and ask for permission to beyond the mountain. We always offer prayers!

[@GaryInSoCal]

Most people don't realize that once you step off that trail in the downward direction, those rocks are just marbles for you to roll and slide on... and you won't stop rolling and sliding until you've tumbled 1000 feet down that cliff... and that's the tumble that has killed 100s of hikers there. That's why the locals call Devils Backbone 'Death Cliff'. No shoes, no ropes, no picks... NOTHING can save you... you're GONE!

[@Szt90]

Lol there hasn’t been hundreds of deaths relax. There was a few. Mostly in the winter and they slipped on ice. A couple people fell and just got hurt but lived.

[@potatothorn]

got to love sections of trail where a wrong step or light breeze might send you 1000 ft down nice video

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

+potatothorn Thanks. Yeah, I've found myself in quite a few of those situations!

[@hyenaswine]

I like this video because it's obviously a joke. That part is not scary at all unless you are retarded and throw yourself into a cartwheel down the mountain.

[@brianakyle7628]

Oh man... Seeing this in daylight reaffirms my wishes to never hike this again. Me and my hiking partner seriously miscalculated our ascent to Baldy, leaving us climbing this sucker in pitch darkness (with headlamps). Not. Fun. Great video!!

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Briana Kyle Good stay off the mountain tired of rescuing you Smucks!

[@mjwmjw470]

@@jonmacdonald5345 older vid but these newbs bug. Baldy is so easy. Been every which way. Loops...up bowl and down to wrightwood....bear canyon...off trail....summit in dark and descend in dark....register ridge....5ft of snow winter summit....as a mountaineer hate seeing people in vans shoes and a water bottle half empty

[@adhd3mon]

​@mjwmjw470 I did the summit in skate shoes but I carried a gallon of water with me

[@donaldgeorge6656]

Only in the snow it can be treacherous

[@heathfulk4261]

I hiked this trail with my Boy Scout Troop 7 back in the early 80s it was a lot of fun!!!!

[@afaelnar]

Scary is right. Take care always, guys.

[@Rosariojewelfan]

Thank you for sharing this video! It looks like a fun adventure!

[@rommelnavarrette2831]

Is it safer to go through the Sky hut trail? I Devils d b bone 3 months ago but had to turn back because I was alone and windy. Some please respond.

[@tacocruiser4238]

The Ski Hut Trail is much more difficult. You are basically scrambling up a steep mountainside with no switchbacks. The trail completely disappears for the last 1-2 miles and you are just bushwhacking to the top (fortunately there isn't much underbrush so it's no big deal).

[@kenmurray8476]

The ski hut trail is far safer. Basically no drop-offs. It is actually a well maintained trail. Devil's is more a simple footpath.

[@dant3113]

Looks pretty fun specially to glissade in the snow

[@DesertZero]

Whoa! Looks like it was a great place to hike.

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

+DesertZero It's the most intense we've ever done! 3.2 miles one way to the peak, and a 2200 foot elevation gain. I'll have the full hike video up this week.

[@julianofpaignton6202]

Yeah that looks scary alright. One wrong move and you are F****D! Next time I climb to Mt Baldy I’m definitely taking the Devils backbone trail. The rides at Magic Mountain look scary but I prefer this kind of fear.

[@timeslowingdown]

I don't really get how it's scary either but it's beautiful

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

I don't do well with heights on narrow pathways. The high angle of the slope also plays tricks on your vision and equilibrium. Trekking poles would have helped tremendously. Clearly, not everyone is bothered by such things as evidenced by the boasting in the comments. If you're ever in the Los Angeles area, it's worth a trip there!

[@timeslowingdown]

Sorry if my comment sounded like boasting,, there are definitely some trails I would be scared on so I understand. And I know the perspective always looks different in a video than in real life too. I'm from the east coast, but I will definitely go here if I go to LA! Looks amazing.

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

No worries. I was born and raised in the east. The landscapes out here are out-of-this-world. If you've never traveled to the southwest, you really should. California, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, et cetera, are all incredible places.

[@timeslowingdown]

I've been to Arizona (north and south), it was pretty awesome. I haven't been to any other states in the west though.

[@kevinceniceros1690]

Apparently at least two people died up there in the same week, let alone the rescues that were reported up there. Early to-day a man slipped while he hiked up there in the snow, and he almost fell to his death.

[@QuantumMotorWorks]

Would anyone know the best route, or has tried to go down the ravine section of the southern face of the bowl at about 1 minute into the video? Google satellitr images shows that it's a straight shot 1200ft down to the ski hut from about 9400 ft to 8200 ft.....what's the grade and is it possible to traverse safely? has anyone on here attempted this or know the best spot to drop into the the bowl from devils backbone?

[@andys5043]

Where is this? It’s not the main trail. How to get here?

[@eldo500]

Oh, you big baby. I just did that section today on a unicycle with a flat tire and a BAC of. 47.

[@eldo500]

We really need to get that unicycle into rehab.

[@maxoblivion]

And some clowns try to do this when it's covered with snow and ice. You know, the ones you read about in the newspaper.

[@kennethyuman1940]

That is probably at [34.285480, -117.634226]. Hope no one slips there.

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

Yes, that's the section of trail in this video.

[@victoria_ramirez]

Do you know if dogs are allowed up there?

[@Prouisorsapientiae]

This is within the Angeles National Forest, so yes, you are allowed to bring your dog. You are required to have it leashed at all times on the trail. Here is a link to the specific rules pertaining to dogs: www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/angeles/recreation

[@kevinceniceros1690]

I do believe that whoever died up there was their own faults. Simply because they were not wise and smart. And because they were careless.

[@kevinceniceros1690]

Hikers, do try to use wisdom and commonsense while hiking up there! For that kind of hike you would need equipment to support you if you fall or slip!

[@5crassrocker]

@@darreldash yes but only when it's icy. people die there every year cus they don't wear katulas or crampons. I grew up in Claremont. hearing about people dying every year mostly in winter.

[@rommelnavarrette2831]

The Devils back bone i heard is worse

[@uncleknife9887]

HAIRBALL!!!

[@epsilondelta343]

Try it during the winter.

[@lopezexplora]

Yep! Just did

[@carywest9256]

Seeing that there was not any information in the video, l looked at the comments and someone mentioned Angeles Natl.Forest.So I'm taking it,this is prunepicker land.Hell all l saw was a bunch of scree.What the hell is so beautiful about scree?

[@chillidig]

I live anhour from there.

[@kevinceniceros1690]

The hikers who didn't bring appropriate safety gear when hiking that trail we're very ignorant. At least four people died on that trail because of ignorance. The trail also disappears at times and it can become slippery, which contributed to the deaths of the hikers who hiked it.

[@PDBMH_]

What's so scary about this

[@ralphmai837]

Ok It’s a narrow path with a steep drop on your side. If you are afraid of those things, then it might be scary, but if not, then it might not be scary for you.

[@abone2pick]

@@ralphmai837 don’t even bother explaining. Just another asshole that loves to play devils adversary no matter what the claim is.

[@carlingas666]

Is this suitable for mtn biking or is ii strictly for hiking?

[@pokegecko5920]

Just today I saw a comment about someone who e-biked the whole trail. I’m sure it’s pretty treacherous but you could do it.

[@tacocruiser4238]

I've done this before. It's not scary at all. Just stay on the trail.

[@abone2pick]

Not scary at all😂 lmao some people just love playing devils adversary

[@tacocruiser4238]

@@abone2pick I'm not playing devil's advocate. I actually hiked the trail and it's not scary. It only looks scary on video. Have you hiked this trail?

[@angela_ankur]

Hi, I'm going to hike Baldy via Devil's Backbone this Saturday. I'm thinking just out and back and not descending via Baldy Bowl. Is the trail really that nar

[@tacocruiser4238]

@@angela_ankur I went up on the Ski Hut Trail and came down via the Devil's Backbone. The Devil's Backbone is probably the easiest route. The Ski Hut Trail is a bit shorter but very steep. I would not recommend the Ski Hut Trail.

[@angela_ankur]

@@tacocruiser4238 thanks, yeah, I was checking the map and it looks like my knees will struggle at the ski Hut Trail. That's why I'm just gonna do Devil's Backbone out and back.