Mount Baden-Powell

Mount Baden-Powell is a peak in the San Gabriel Mountains of California named for the founder of the World Scouting Movement, Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell. It was officially recognized by the USGS at a dedication ceremony in 1931. It was originally known as East Twin or North Baldy.

Geography


At 9407 ft in elevation, Mount Baden-Powell is traditionally considered to be the 5th highest peak of the San Gabriel Range; however it is the second highest peak in the range with more than 1000 ft of prominence, and is the highest peak not part of the Mount San Antonio massif.

The peak is within the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

Hiking
The Pacific Crest Trail reaches within 0.25 mi of the summit; at 9360 ft, this is the highest point of the trail south of the Sierra Nevada.

The summit has long been a favorite hiking excursion either from the Mount Islip Saddle near Little Jimmy Trail Camp, or the Vincent Gap Trail which leads up a moderate to strenuous set of switchbacks from Wrightwood. Mount Baden-Powell is also the high point along The Silver Moccasin Trail, a historic 53 mi Boy Scout hiking trail, which connects this summit to Mount Burnham (less than 1 mi away), Throop Peak, and Mount Hawkins. The Vincent Gap hike leads through a variety of forested areas consisting of Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Lodgepole Pine, Incense-cedar, and an ancient forest of Limber Pine some of which are more than 2,000 years old.

In 1957 several Southern California councils of the Boy Scouts of America placed a formal marker at the summit with a plaque dedicated to Lord Baden-Powell.