Baldy, Tyler Peak Trail — Monday, Jul. 3, 2017

It was a beautify day for a hike up Baldy and its neighboring peaks - clear skies, fog and mild temperatures. Parked at the upper trailhead and ascended the Upper Maynard Burn trail, then summited Baldy, Gray Wolf North, Baldy (again) and Tyler. Descended the Tyler Peak trail back to the upper trailhead. Below is a summary of conditions:

Trails:
Both the Upper Maynard Burn and Tyler Peak trails are open with only a couple small blowdowns. Both trails are very steep, but they are well established and recently maintained. The Upper Maynard Burn trail is longer and more consistent in slope but is dry. The Tyler Peak trail is shorter and has water, but it seemed more gravely and slick on its steeper sections than the Burn trail.

Water:
The Upper Maynard Burn trail is dry beyond the creek just past the parking lot. In contrast, there are multiple water sources along the Tyler Peak trail, which has plenty of water in the stream at about 4200’, and a good flow in the small creek at 4900’ before the trail begins to open near the upper slopes. No other water sources up on the peaks, without descending into one of the hanging valleys. The hanging valley just N of Little Baldy has a good flowing stream - it would be about 200’ vertical feet down to it from the ridge camp just E of the Burn trail’s upper end.

Peaks:
Tyler, Baldy and Gray Wolf North are all essentially snow-free and open for summer season. While Tyler and Baldy are easy walk-ups with way trails, Gray Wolf N is steeper, with a short Class II rocky section just below the summit. All three summits have very different characters. Baldy is broad, rounded, smooth and bald. Tyler has knobs, saddles, meadows and a spattering of stubby trees. Gray Wolf North is steeper, higher, more rocky and more alpine than the other two peaks.