Silver Star and Little Baldy Peak from Grouse Vista 6/25/23

[Natmospheric]

Hiked up the Grouse Vista trail to Silver Star before continuing on the Bluff Mountain Trail to Little Baldy Peak. There were some flowers along the Grouse Vista Trail, mostly paintbrush, but not as explosive with blooms as some peak times. There is a large area of snow just below the Silver Star summit that is easily passible. Continuing onto the Bluff Mountain Trail through the campsite, we hit a couple snowfields on the north side of the ridge in the woods below the Silver Star summit, but they were easily passible. No snow issues beyond this on the Bluff Mountain Trail. The trail is mostly in really good shape, with a couple brushy and somewhat overgrown spots. The use path to Little Baldy, marked with ribbons on a tree at the turnoff east of the summit, was a little faint at first but clear and followable in general. Views from Little Baldy Peak were incredible. To avoid the crowds on the way back, we turned down the road at the junction with the Indian Pits trail and took this to the Tarbell Trail to return back to the trailhead. The Tarbell Trail is in excellent shape.