This was about as easy as it gets. Road was open all the way to North Backbone trailhead. 3 hours car to car. Wind nearly blew me off the trail though. It was my first time on this particular area and I hope to be back
Augie Medina - Nov 2, 2016 1:15 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2016
From Baldy
Baldy via Devil's Backbone and then to Dawson. Did not enjoy the 1200' drop to the saddle below Dawson.
socalpeakbagger - Aug 14, 2016 6:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2016
Tough but amazing views!
Hit Pine and Dawson...I'll be back to complete that North Backbone all the way to Baldy!
IronHiker - Aug 3, 2015 1:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2015
North Backbone
Pine, Dawson, Baldy, West Baldy.
ScottWhitneyBound - Jul 26, 2015 11:48 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2015
First Time
A group of 7 went from Manker Flats to Baldy, then on the North Backbone Trail to Pine Mountain, hit Dawson on the way back to Baldy, then down the Devil's Backbone to Baldy Notch for a beer and a ticket down on the chair lift. Tough, but rewarding hike!
royanderson - Feb 23, 2014 5:45 pm Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2014
North backbone
Started at Manker Flat, went up Register Ridge to Baldy, then down the North backbone To Dawson. I missed the trail down Baldy when I was off in some snow and ice, but found it easily on the way back, then returned via Baldy Bowl. I was hoping to also do Pine Mountain, but a late start in the day nixed that.
Cleaning up the higher HPS peaks north of Baldy. Dawson was #2 after coming up over Pine from Blue Ridge. Great views of Baldy's north face and the desert, also out to the San Bernardino. Reversed route back down to Blue Ridge and finished with Wright.
seano - Oct 17, 2012 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2012
North Backbone
A nice, easy hike to Baldy and back.
NavySeabee - Sep 26, 2011 11:23 am Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2011
Wright - Pine - Dawson
Success this time! Beautiful hike from Blue Ridge. Really enjoyed the part from Pine/Dawson saddle to summit. Tacked on Circle Mtn before this traverse hike. Note the Dawson Peak Trail junction (Fish Creek Trail on sign) and noted the trail was overgrown at the top too. No surprise there...
I was originally wanting to go from Baldy to Dawson to Pine and back, but time and energy was low. Bagged Dawson then headed back up the steep ascent to Baldy's summit.
Paulatron - Aug 8, 2011 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2011
North Backbone
Not very exciting, but if you're already on your way to Baldy from Pine, might as well bag it.
mcphersonm80 - Aug 8, 2011 1:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2011
North Backbone (with Pine and Baldy)
Probably the least remarkable of the three peaks on this trail, but the relatively tame ascent from the Pine/Dawson saddle was very much appreciated by my feet/knees/legs.
cbuelow - Aug 7, 2011 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2011
Okay, I'll be the humble schmuck to say I didn't make it... What started as an ambitious 5-peak, 5,000' 16 mile loop fell short due to daylight and what was nearly endless thrashing.
Started at Guffy, dropped to Camp Lupine, up Fish Creek Trail to Pine Mtn Ridge over to Wild View Peak via a slide-covered section of the trail and from there is where it got interesting. Picked up the use trail dropping down to the "Spring" due east of Wild View to pick up Dawson Peak Trail (I use that term losely). Trail was well-defined until I crossed the second spring (both drinkable) and that's when the fun started. What ensued was over 2 hours of thrashing through overgrown trail/slopes and navigational challenges just to climb 1400'. Brush thinned out at about 8100' on west slope of Pine Mtn so I climbed the ridge proper. Topped out at 9400' on Pine Mtn, traversed over nasty rock to trail and back to road due to time. Figured why tag any of the peaks since I need to go back and get Dawson.
Moral to the story...Dawson Peak Trail is not much of a trail anymore. Still enjoyed the day though.
klotito - Jul 6, 2011 12:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2011
Baldy, Dawson, Pine
Hiked down a snowy north face of Baldy, up to Dawson, over to Pine and back down to Manker Flats. Great day!
MoapaPk - Jun 27, 2011 2:46 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2011
On way to Baldy
From Guffy.
GigaMike - Feb 4, 2011 1:13 pm Date Climbed: Mar 21, 2009
From Baldy
Hiked up Dawson Peak from Baldy on my way to Pine Mountain.
Camped on the blue ridge the night before . . . got an early start with JQ. Hiked most of the way to Baldy with a nice dude we met along the way and his dog (mohawk).
wannabepeakbagger - Nov 16, 2017 3:24 pm Date Climbed: Nov 16, 2017
Windy windyThis was about as easy as it gets. Road was open all the way to North Backbone trailhead. 3 hours car to car. Wind nearly blew me off the trail though. It was my first time on this particular area and I hope to be back
Snowman of Annapurna - Feb 1, 2017 12:27 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2015
The Real BackboneGreat Hike.
Augie Medina - Nov 2, 2016 1:15 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2016
From BaldyBaldy via Devil's Backbone and then to Dawson. Did not enjoy the 1200' drop to the saddle below Dawson.
socalpeakbagger - Aug 14, 2016 6:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2016
Tough but amazing views!Hit Pine and Dawson...I'll be back to complete that North Backbone all the way to Baldy!
IronHiker - Aug 3, 2015 1:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2015
North BackbonePine, Dawson, Baldy, West Baldy.
ScottWhitneyBound - Jul 26, 2015 11:48 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2015
First TimeA group of 7 went from Manker Flats to Baldy, then on the North Backbone Trail to Pine Mountain, hit Dawson on the way back to Baldy, then down the Devil's Backbone to Baldy Notch for a beer and a ticket down on the chair lift. Tough, but rewarding hike!
royanderson - Feb 23, 2014 5:45 pm Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2014
North backboneStarted at Manker Flat, went up Register Ridge to Baldy, then down the North backbone To Dawson. I missed the trail down Baldy when I was off in some snow and ice, but found it easily on the way back, then returned via Baldy Bowl. I was hoping to also do Pine Mountain, but a late start in the day nixed that.
brichardsson - Sep 21, 2013 10:47 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2013
fun peakvia north backbone trail
orbitor - Sep 3, 2013 2:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2013
Via North Backbone TrailCleaning up the higher HPS peaks north of Baldy. Dawson was #2 after coming up over Pine from Blue Ridge. Great views of Baldy's north face and the desert, also out to the San Bernardino. Reversed route back down to Blue Ridge and finished with Wright.
seano - Oct 17, 2012 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2012
North BackboneA nice, easy hike to Baldy and back.
NavySeabee - Sep 26, 2011 11:23 am Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2011
Wright - Pine - DawsonSuccess this time! Beautiful hike from Blue Ridge. Really enjoyed the part from Pine/Dawson saddle to summit. Tacked on Circle Mtn before this traverse hike. Note the Dawson Peak Trail junction (Fish Creek Trail on sign) and noted the trail was overgrown at the top too. No surprise there...
MtnDoser - Sep 20, 2011 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2011
Menker Flats to Baldy to DawsonI was originally wanting to go from Baldy to Dawson to Pine and back, but time and energy was low. Bagged Dawson then headed back up the steep ascent to Baldy's summit.
Paulatron - Aug 8, 2011 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2011
North BackboneNot very exciting, but if you're already on your way to Baldy from Pine, might as well bag it.
mcphersonm80 - Aug 8, 2011 1:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2011
North Backbone (with Pine and Baldy)Probably the least remarkable of the three peaks on this trail, but the relatively tame ascent from the Pine/Dawson saddle was very much appreciated by my feet/knees/legs.
cbuelow - Aug 7, 2011 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2011
North Backbone TrailSecond stop on the way to Baldy...
NavySeabee - Jul 25, 2011 10:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2011
Failed AttemptOkay, I'll be the humble schmuck to say I didn't make it... What started as an ambitious 5-peak, 5,000' 16 mile loop fell short due to daylight and what was nearly endless thrashing.
Started at Guffy, dropped to Camp Lupine, up Fish Creek Trail to Pine Mtn Ridge over to Wild View Peak via a slide-covered section of the trail and from there is where it got interesting. Picked up the use trail dropping down to the "Spring" due east of Wild View to pick up Dawson Peak Trail (I use that term losely). Trail was well-defined until I crossed the second spring (both drinkable) and that's when the fun started. What ensued was over 2 hours of thrashing through overgrown trail/slopes and navigational challenges just to climb 1400'. Brush thinned out at about 8100' on west slope of Pine Mtn so I climbed the ridge proper. Topped out at 9400' on Pine Mtn, traversed over nasty rock to trail and back to road due to time. Figured why tag any of the peaks since I need to go back and get Dawson.
Moral to the story...Dawson Peak Trail is not much of a trail anymore. Still enjoyed the day though.
klotito - Jul 6, 2011 12:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2011
Baldy, Dawson, PineHiked down a snowy north face of Baldy, up to Dawson, over to Pine and back down to Manker Flats. Great day!
MoapaPk - Jun 27, 2011 2:46 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2011
On way to BaldyFrom Guffy.
GigaMike - Feb 4, 2011 1:13 pm Date Climbed: Mar 21, 2009
From BaldyHiked up Dawson Peak from Baldy on my way to Pine Mountain.
labgloves - Dec 21, 2010 5:11 pm
With Pine and BaldyCamped on the blue ridge the night before . . . got an early start with JQ. Hiked most of the way to Baldy with a nice dude we met along the way and his dog (mohawk).