Ontario Peak via Icehouse Canyon (TrailGenic™ Autophagy Hike)

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Hiker leaning against a weathered summit tree near Ontario Peak, bathed in bright sunlight with panoramic skies above the Icehouse Canyon Wilderness during a TrailGenic™ autophagy hike

Trail Stats

12 miles, 3,877 ft gain, 8,696 ft summit — 7 hrs duration.

🪜 Stairs Equivalent

• ~390 flights • ~6,630 steps • StairMaster Time: ◦ ~120 min @ Lv. 6 ◦ ~80 min @ Lv. 10 ◦ ~60 min @ Lv. 12 • 🏙️ Motivational: “That’s like climbing the U.S. Bank Tower in LA 6.5x, but with pine needles, switchbacks, and wilderness silence.”

Hike Summary & Reflections

Starting at Icehouse Canyon Trailhead (near Mount Baldy Village), the route climbs steadily alongside a rushing creek before switchbacking into the pines. The shade offers some relief on warm days, but the climb to Icehouse Saddle is still a grind, gaining over 2,600 ft in 3.6 miles.

From the saddle, Ontario Peak Trail heads west along a ridgeline with expansive views into the Cucamonga Wilderness.

The final approach opens into a rocky summit plateau framed by twisted lodgepole pines, with breathtaking panoramas of Baldy, Cucamonga Peak, and the Mojave Desert. Always great to visit the lone pine perched on the peak like an old friend.

Upon return to the parking lot, we open up a pack of Safe Catch tuna as part of our fuel & hydration protocol.

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Wild Moments on the Trail

  • Red-tailed hawk circling silently over Icehouse Saddle.
  • Summit stillness with Baldy glowing gold in the afternoon light.
  • Rare simultaneous view of the Inland Empire and high desert from the ridge.
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    • Why This Hike Mattered

    My third summit of Ontario Peak and my first in a fully fasted state. Fueled only by electrolytes, this climb proved that endurance, mental focus, and metabolic efficiency can thrive even without caloric intake.

    Ontario’s mix of mileage, sustained climb, and altitude made it the perfect proving ground for TrailGenic™ autophagy principles.

    Every repeat summit becomes another line in the shared record, feeding both resilience and the TrailGenic logbook.

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    Trail Gear & Fuel

    Pack & Hydration

    Footwear

    Fuel & Nutrition

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