Old Baldy
2003 or 2004
A surprise day off in the middle of the week -- Kathy and I decided to hike into the Santa Ritas from Madera Canyon. We left home at 7:30 but there was a gift shop to visit and rooms to tour the rooms at Santa Rita Lodge, and acorn woodpeckers to admire. Then we found out there was a very long detour to the trailhead and got hopelessly lost on a "shortcut."
![](images/mount_wrightson.jpg)
We ended up on Old Baldy, the steepest and most difficult trail to the summit of Mount Wrightson. In 2.2 miles, we would climb more than 2000 feet.
![](images/kathy1.jpg)
![](images/kathy2.jpg)
Summer wildflowers were rampant, and there were many stops to try to identify them. Our favorite was the Mexican Silene, a very flamboyant bright red flower.