10.2 mi, 4,122 ft gain, 5:15, Fasted, 1 ATH (Lytes)
Hike Summary & Reflections
Wild Moments on the Trail
Bright sprays of California Goldenbush (Ericameria pinifolia) lined Devil’s Backbone, splashing gold against the granite — a reminder of resilience at altitude.
Summit views: sea of clouds rolling in below, contrast of Mojave Desert vs Inland Empire.
Crossed paths with multiple hikers wearing Salomon and Nathan packs — trail culture alive at 10,000 ft.
Saw someone with the new Hoka Mafate 5. Might try and review that in the future.
Why This Hike Mattered
This hike doubled as a controlled electrolyte test. ATH Lytes worked well for conditioning hikes but underperformed vs LMNT at TG-level summits. It revealed:
