Register Ridge - hiking the steepest trail to Mt Baldy, and why not to do Devils Backbone in Winter

[@ricklarry4212]

Picture postcard perfect! Just incredible views 360 degrees. You picked a perfect day, so clear! Thanks for sharing Jarl.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Thanks Rick!

[@juditate111]

Amazing, you are still alive! There can be no amateurs on these mountains, at least they would not stay that way for long. Oh, I can stop holding my breath now.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Lol!

[@NatureBoy711]

i've hiked that tail and it's steep alright ! i glissade down the baldy bowl. it's thrilling !

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Indeed it is

[@wilm2109]

Great video, it looks like it was an awesome day to be up there. Although I must say those dudes at 12:00 made me cringe, no crampons or axes, not even a freaking trekking pole at the very least. It was very stupid of them to cross like that, could easily have ended in tragedy.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Thank you, yes, that was a dangerous little pursuit there, thats why I wanted to show people where not to go:-)

[@juditate111]

P.S. You pick the most beautiful places on earth for your travels.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Glad you like them!

[@beedumpling3820]

Beautiful day in sunny SoCal. That was pretty dang steep. It looked like you were at a 45-degree angle the entire climb. That one spot was really sketch. Glad everyone got safely across it. Awesome as always Jarl. :) ♥

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Thanks, and old one

[@ramonacrandall9492]

oh wow another stunning view

[@NorwegianXplorer]

It was!

[@barbarascheck6519]

This brings back good memories of living in SoCal. Register Ridge is a calf stretcher! And beautiful route up to Baldy. I thought there would be more snow up there in February. Thanks for creating this adventure and sharing it!

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Thank you, snow levels vary at lot, this was a low snow year

[@Magellann365]

Truly an epic day to be up there, when it's clear enough that you can not only see Catalina and San Clemente Islands, but see the other side of them! I sat out this weekend, but I'm glad you captured the great weather for us to enjoy.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Awesome, thanks for watching, the air was so clear I have rarely seen it like that!

[@HuskyMike]

Small world! Did you see a guy with a Siberian Husky on the summit? We were sitting down in the wind block by where the trail from Wrightwood comes up. I took the Ski Hut Trail (first time for me) and got to the summit about 11:15 or so. Stayed maybe an hour. Great weather coming up.. but hot going back down!

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Hey, I saw a few dogs, but cant remember a Husky at the summit, I might have summited at bit later, I had a good break at Mt Harwood before I went up the last stretch, but Im sure I will see you there some other time:-)

[@HuskyMike]

​@@NorwegianXplorer I saw a few other dogs too... unfortunately, most were off-leash. Where's a Ranger when you need one? :) You can see pics of our hikes on the sgwa forum as well as the socalhiking reddit forum. Feel free to say hi if you see us. Thanks again for another quality video.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

@@HuskyMike Ok, cool thank you for watching!

[@NickandRachel]

So beautiful! Thanks for sharing

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Thank you so much, thanks for watching!

[@NickandRachel]

@@NorwegianXplorer no problem! We really enjoy making these types of videos as well

[@DISASTERJOE]

AMAZING video.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Thank you🙏

[@InfamousMS]

Should have micro spikes and poles/ice axe for the sketchy backbone section!

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Micro Spikes and poles are not adequate, you need crampons and Ice Axe and the knowledge of how to use them, better yet, stay away from the backbone in winter.

[@InfamousMS]

Right, but the people you filmed appeared to have none of it and were in a pretty dangerous situation. I’m just saying that even microspikes and poles would have made them much safer than nothing, ideally and axe/crampons.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

@@InfamousMS Yep, exactly, we are in agreement about that:-)

[@mjwmjw470]

Hi Norwegian Xplorer. Dropped you a msg last year about this trail and whether you knew about it. You said you knew and were gonna give it a try. Been waiting to pick your brain lol. So what's your opinion on views, toughness, and solitude? I know my limits so cactus to clouds I'll probably never try but this is steepest trail I've been on but at same time I love it. Just don't go downhill unless you want serious toe blisters. Really happy to see you made it up the register. Kudos brother. That section you showed the idiots scrambling in the snow is the 1 section I'll never do devil's backbone in winter. I won't be a baldy statistic. Glad your persuading people do not attempt as well. I swear bro one of these days baldy is going to start issuing permits just like all our other mountains. I love that's it's permit free but too many non experienced climbers are attempting and it's only a matter of time before rangers are gonna patrol. Thx for all you do and happy trails.... Mark

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Hey Mark, Its a cool trail, no people, great views and pretty short, I was getting tired of the ski hut and Bear canyon trails, so this was a welcome diversion, yeah Devils Backbone is no joke and should prob not be attempted at all in winter, but people do very little research unfortunately .

[@mjwmjw470]

@@NorwegianXplorer I agree...have been witness to multiple helicopter rescues on baldy. Don't like seeing people in tank tops, vans shoes, and 1 half empty bottle of water. Anyways thx for your quick response. Shows you care about your subscribers. Gonna attempt a winter gorgonio summit within a month but for summer I definitely want to give bear canyon a try or come up baldy from wrightwood.....Take care my good man

[@NorwegianXplorer]

@@mjwmjw470 Yes, I have been witness to several rescues too, I made a couple of guys turn back actually. Gonna try for Gorgonio too one of these days, its been too long since I was up there, Maybe ill see you:-)

[@NorwegianXplorer]

@Phillip Park Yeah, you know how it goes...

[@Magellann365]

@Phillip Park "But I've done this before" famous last words >.>

[@graham974]

I remember doing this route years ago and while it is beautiful and uncrowded, I personally will not do it again!

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Its a dangerous place the devils backbone in winter

[@CatherineGregoryAdventures]

Well done Jarl. That slope crossing you captured those guys doing looked so sketchy. It was a white knuckle ride watching it. lol

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Haha, yes, that was not safe for sure!

[@aaronfulwider779]

Love your choice of music. New age and gets in your brain. Crazy steepness is hard on the lungs but good for the heart. way to get in shape for tougher things to come. An ice axe is light weight and would make crossing that ice pitch a lot less stressful.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Thanks Aaron, I make this music myself, so really appreciate that! Nothing like a 4000 ft of elevation gain to stay in shape for our future trips, which I am really looking forward to:-) I always carry an ice axe in winter, I even had mountaineering boots in my pack that I switched to when I got into the snow, and crampons, but for that steep pitch I think a belay would have made most sense if you were gonna be totally safe, self belay with the axe was a good second choice:-)

[@aaronfulwider779]

@@NorwegianXplorer That's awesome, you are multi-talented. The music definitely matches the moods one would feel on such outings. I like surrounding myself with artists.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

AARON FULWIDER appreciate that, hopefully we will get into some mud soon:-)

[@LARogers]

I hiked to Baldy today via Register Ridge...some serious incline...over 1,500 ft elevation gain in one mile

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Yes, its steep:-) Congrats!

[@jchan3123]

How is the level of steepness compared to Bear Canyon Trail?

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Bear canyon is harder, but this one is steeper

[@jellybelly111]

Wow, those two guys are risking it. No crampons, poles, ice axe... nothing. There's nothing manly about gambling with your life; bring proper equipment.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

True, a pole while not save you anywhere, but these guys where not used to these conditions and a few had the sense to turn around.

[@hemming57]

The backbone is a great winter climb, if you have training and the proper gear, like an ice axe, crampons, winter boots ect.

[@hemming57]

Did it eight times

[@a_1586]

Gods Creation ❤️💜🙏💪

[@NorwegianXplorer]

I am not following?

[@a_1586]

@@NorwegianXplorer they put names such as devil's this or that bit in reality it's Gods creation 🙏🙏

[@BackpackingWithWoodglue]

Good stuff! Glad you shared the experience here! 👏 ~woodglue

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Thanks man:-)

[@ramonacrandall9492]

how come you have emoji? i dont have one here .lol :)

[@NorwegianXplorer]

🤷‍♂️