A few weeks ago I hiked with my Wednesday hiking group. We met at the Flying J and carpooled to the Mt. Pinos Nordic Base. This was a shuttle hike so we left some cars there then drove back to the McGill trailhead to start the hike.
The trail started out steep and it was a steady climb up through a nice, shady trail. We passed through three campgrounds; McGill, Mt. Pinos, and lastly Chula Vista campground.
We were the only group on the trail that day but there were quite a few people camping.
Besides the beautiful scenery, there were lots of snow plants and Mariposa Lilies along the trail. The trek to the first campground McGill was the steepest and the longest.
We took breaks at the first two campgrounds. As we approached the third campground which was a short distance from our cars, I noticed my phone was missing. I started to retrace my steps descending the trail for about a mile but then decided to just call it a day after realizing I had to climb back up.
Anyways, I remembered exactly where I took the last photo, so my friends drove me back to the second campground and I hiked a short distance to find it, with no such luck, and it being really hot I just decided to quit.
For two days it bothered me and I had a feeling my phone was still there somewhere on the trail. I returned two days later with my friend. We parked one car at the Pinos Nordic Base and one at the Mt. Pinos campground. We started our hike this time descending the trail and just as I suspected my phone was there on the ground by a rock where I had sat to take a picture. Still charged and unharmed. I really lucked out.
Anyways, this was a really maintained trail. The campgrounds were nice and clean.
Stats: 6 miles one way, 2200' gain.
