Mount Baldy via Register Ridge (Autophagy Hike)

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Hiker in windbreaker flashing a peace sign at the summit of Mount Baldy, surrounded by loose rock, alpine ridges, and low-lying clouds after ascending via Register Ridge on an autophagy hike

Trail Stats

Register Ridge to Summit: 3.3 miles, 3,881 ft gain Full Loop: 10.2 miles, 4,122 ft gain Duration: 5 hours (7AM–12PM)

🪜 Stairs Equivalent

(10.2 mi | 4,122 ft gain) • ~412 flights • ~7,000 steps • StairMaster Time: ◦ ~125 min @ Lv. 6 ◦ ~85 min @ Lv. 10 ◦ ~65 min @ Lv. 12 • 🏙️ Motivational: “That’s like climbing the Eiffel Tower 7.5x, then tiptoeing across a cloud on the Devil’s Backbone.”

Hike Summary & Reflections

This hike wasn’t about testing — it was about confirming. Register Ridge straight to the peak in a 3-hour fasted push, then flowing through the Mojave–Inland Empire divide via Devil’s Backbone.

Clear blue skies and a sea of clouds below made it feel like I was walking across the sky.

Fasted, focused, and in full control. Every part of this loop was locked in. The hike ended exactly how I wanted — not with depletion, but with clarity.

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Wild Moments on the Trail

“When Cramping Strikes at 10,000 ft: A Lesson in Timing, Not Volume.”

Ran into a 25-year-old Asian hiker, cramping hard just below the summit. I asked if he was "OK." Told me he “drank tons of electrolytes last night.” Mistimed. Overloaded.

Meanwhile, I was flowing on 0 calories. 1.5 LMNT, perfectly timed. Proof that it's not what you take in — it’s how and when. TrailGenic isn’t a brand. It’s a system. And today it worked.

‍“When Cramping Strikes at 10,000 ft: A Lesson in Timing, Not Volume”…Proof that it's not what you take in — it’s how and when. TrailGenic isn’t a brand. It’s a system. And today it worked.➡️ Learn more in our full breakdown: Electrolyte Timing & Cramping.

Why This Hike Mattered

This wasn’t just a hike — it was a reminder that Trailgenic works. Five hours. Zero food. Every step powered by precision and will.

But it was also something deeper: my fourth Baldy summit this summer since the trails reopened after the fire closures. The first was Memorial Day Weekend. This one? A full-circle moment — not chasing novelty, but refining mastery.

The cramping hiker I passed? He mistimed his electrolytes. I didn’t. The trail rewards the prepared, not the overfilled. TrailGenic is about what you don’t consume. Today was proof.

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Trail Gear & Fuel

Pack & Hydration

Fuel Protocol

Apparel & Accessories

Recovery

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Read the gear review. Vest: Salomon ADV Skin 5 — streamlined, bounce-free, perfect for fasted familiar trails like this one.

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