Distance: 7 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 3807'
Elevation Gain: 1807'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.4
Round trip time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Recommended water: 32 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Maple Springs Road turnout
Difficulty: Moderate
This was my fourth ascent of Bedford Peak (LPS #34). It was a scaled down training hike I did after tweaking my lower back in the gym. I've noticed an increase in random minor injuries this year from my normal training regimen. Sucks getting old. Fortunately, it has been recovering quickly and not threatening plans for later in the month. The trailhead was at a dirt turnout on Maple Springs Road not far past the gate. I arrived at 7:45 AM and was surprised to see four other vehicles parked there on a random Tuesday. When I started, it was 72F with a high expected in the mid 80Fs. Not the best time to climb Bedford. I didn't take any breaks until I reached the summit. My last time on this trail was in 2019 and I only noticed a couple of changes. There used to be a cairn garden at one of the switchbacks that is now gone. The use trail from the road to Bedford is much better defined. There was no register and the benchmark has been gone for more than a decade. It still had a nice wooden sign. I had a nice view of San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, and Lake Elsinore. I wondered where all the people were from the other vehicles. On my way down, I passed one hiker who looked like he was going for Bedford, but he would have started after me. Half way down, I met two other hikers who had also started well after me. The people from the parked cars were never seen. Ghosts.
