This was a great hike with a good group of people. Almost everyone made it to the top and everyone seemed to have a good time. The weather was great. The highlight of the trip might have been watching the airshow put on by a sailplane pilot. He was riding the slope lift coming up the face of the mountain, but he was also obviously performing for the people on the peak and those coming up the trail by diving towards us then zooming up right above us. He made a series of low, fast passes, very tight turns, and obviously was having a blast.

This is a strenuous hike up to the 9400 foot peak of Mount Baden-Powell. It's 8 miles round trip, an out and back hike, with 2800 feet of elevation gain. The hike climbs 40 switchbacks and takes you through an amazing range of vegetation. Along the way you will see Oaks, Jeffery pines, Sugar Pines, Incense Cedar, Lodgepole Pines, White Fir, and near the summit the knarled Limber Pines. The views from the summit are breathtaking, looking over the Mojave desert and Southern Sierra.

I'll be leading this hike at a moderate pace. Please bring water, snacks, a hat, sunblock and a good attitude.

Trailhead: Take the 210 Freeway east to the 15 north. Exit on Highway 138. Go Left towards Palmdale for about 8.5 miles, then turn Left onto Highway 2 for 14.7 miles to the Vincent Gap parking lot. You must have the Adventure Pass to park here. Please carpool if possible.