The Quest for Mt. Baden Powell

For years, my favorite hike in Angeles National Forest has been Mt. Baden Powell, not from the traditional starting point of Vincent Gap, but from the lesser traveled Dawson Saddle. It has all the best of the area – great views, good incline that’s moderate enough to be “easy,” a great payoff of a peak, and being at higher elevation it has nice cooler temperatures and some shade from trees.

However, for over the past two years, the rainy winters we’ve had in SoCal took their toll on the road in (CA-2) causing washouts and closures so it has been inaccessible for quite some time. So, when the road reopened at last, and with the week of 9/8 projected to have much cooler temperatures than usual, I decided it was time to go back to Baden Powell!

Attempt #1 – Thursday, 9/11/25

I took our truck to charge first, then over to La Canada to enter the forest on CA-2. It was unexpectedly closed between La Canada and Angeles Forest Highway (red line on map) and to go around would have meant me arriving at 11am or later, so I decided to postpone.

Attempt #2 – Friday, 9/12/25

Since I knew the closure didn’t start until 7am I got up really early and entered the forest prior to the gate being shut. I had a lovely drive into the forest as the sun rose…that is until I hit an unseen rock and got a flat tire! I was fairly far into the forest at this point (blue on the map) so I was surprised when I had enough cell service to text Jacob about the situation, then talk with him briefly about my plans (try to get the last stubborn lugnut off to put the spare on, and call AAA if I couldn’t since I had service – and, that I would give him updates). Then, after we got off the phone I promptly lost service making the entire plan moot.

After about an hour of wrestling with the lugnut (the wrench was not “locking” on so it was impossible to get leverage) I was about to replace the other 4 and hobble down to Newcomb’s Ranch, an abandoned restaurant a few miles back where I knew car lovers gathered, so that I could at least get some assistance. Luckily, some guys in luxury sports cars pulled into the turnout about an hour after my phone call and helped “hammer” the wrench onto the lugnut with a rock, which finally proved successful. After thanking them, I put on the spare and decided to save the trip by going just one mile down the road further to Mt. Waterman for a six mile trail run before leaving the forest.

I briefly considered sending a message to Jacob on my Garmin letting him know everything was ok, but ultimately decided not to, as a flat tire along a highway really isn’t too big of a deal (this would prove a mistake). Instead, I had a great trail run in the cool weather and got back to the car to slowly drive at 25mph for 35+ miles.

Once I had exited the forest, I let Jacob know I was back in service – but having not heard from me for several hours he had already argued with AAA (thinking I had called them), called the Sheriff’s dept. to see if they could help me, and ultimately started to drive around the north end of the forest to “reach me” (he made it to the green star on the map – he remembered that I said the road was closed from Thursday, but not that only a section of it was closed, so he thought there wouldn’t be any cars around to aid me).

Luckily, I let him know everything was fine and was able to get my tire replaced within half an hour and make it back home! So of course then on Saturday we had to go together…

Attempt #3 – 9/14/25

Not wanting to tempt fate by going through the forest route first, we retraced Jacob’s northern route to the trailhead, and ultimately enjoyed a quiet, beautiful 9 miles to Baden Powell, which Lucy enjoyed too. She didn’t come with me either day prior as she’s not great when it’s just one of us, and thrives on being with the “whole pack.”

The trail was pretty much just as good as I remembered it and certainly much easier given my fitness improvements over the last 2+ years! That said, given the distance and complications I don’t think I’ll be looking to go back any time soon. Much easier now to go north and challenge myself in the Sierras!

• Trip type: Trail Running + Hiking
• Distance: 6 miles + 9 miles
• Altitude Gain: 1800 Feet + 2800 Feet
• Length: 1 day each