Mt. Lawlor via Barley Flats Trail & Firebreak Trail 12/12/21, 1:30:49PM)

Hiked with Lark & Storm after we already summited 3 peaks this morning. This was supposed to be a little scouting of the area, but… Trail: we took Strawberry Peak Trail up to where it meets the Barley Flats Trail on the right side about 0.7 miles from head trail. Barley Flats Trail was a bit of a nightmare for me today. For the first 2 miles, the trail was: rocky, sandy, overgrown, lots of damn Yucca!!! Also washed out on some areas, but there is a faint trail, so one pass ok. Didn’t enjoy it , especially that I had two dogs on leash. Someone, some Trail Angel, a maintenance crew, cleared & cut some of the bushes. So… it is passable, but a true pain in the butt!!! I’ve foot prints & that made me think that trail must be ok soon. But, it was like that for 2 miles. I think I had to climb under a tree or two, & go over few other along the way. Secluded…it goes parallel to the road, but you’re up high. Several times I wanted to turn around, but the pain of going through it again, made me going. I was already regretting my decision & was super worried of how the condition of the firebreak trail would be. I was lucky. We were lucky. I hoped to summit Mt. Lowler by 4 pm. That we give us enough time to either go to Strawberry saddle & return that way. Or…as crazy as it might seem, go down the other Firebreak Trail, which I’ve come up to the summit, some months ago. That, is super, super steep! But is the shortest way to the car. After we got to about 2 miles of a nightmare of a trail, the trail was getting wider & super flat & clean. Yes!!! There was a god watching over us!!! Lol! I could see the green big water towers. Because was already getting late & cooler, I didn’t go to the towers, instead we started going up the Firebreak Trail. Steep & my legs were already tired. After 3-4 bumps, going up & down we got to the last stretch going steeply to the summit. Rocky, steep, sandy & just a nuisance at that point, however we got to the summit 10 minutes before 4 pm. The sun was doing its setting thing & everything looked golden, majestic, fairytale like. The dogs picked up some wildlife scent & were pulling me like crazy. I didn’t see a thing. I swore at Storm & he didn’t give a damn. We descended via the steepest Firebreak Trail that I’ve ever hiked. I did 3 slide & slip falls on my butt. Nothing bad. But, it was Storms fault!!! He seemed to want to fallow the rocks that were going down dislodged by our movements & was pulling or going ahead, tripping & getting twisted. He is not too sensitive… compared to Lark that has amazing intuition snd sense & sensibility! We made it to yet another saddle & took the last mile or so back to the car. It was still light & the sunset skies were just another reward for our hard hiking day. Wether: at start, almost 1:30 pm, was sunny, pleasant. It got cooler to cold at the summit. My body was still warmed from the intense uphill , so I didn’t feel cold until we reached the car. It was 43 F at the car. In next 20 minutes it got dark & cold, but we were already in the car in our way home. Water Source: none Other Hikers: none Wildlife Sightings: birds, lizards Highlight Of The Hike: 1) No injuries. But I did get one Yucca puncture on my right lower leg. I have a bruise. Also fell 3x on my butt. Nothing serious. 2) Hit yo the summit via new route Things To Remember 1) Don’t hike this route for another year lol 2) Good trekking poles a must! Good hiking shoes! 3) Do not hike this in the summer months! 4) Firebreak Trail better after rain & in colder temps. Easier going up than down! 5) Please do not bring dogs and kids via this route. I made a mistake bringing the dogs.