The gear lending closet at Wild Meadow Trail started with two trekking poles a guest left behind in 2009. It now fills a full closet off the front hallway. The items in it are the things guests most often forget, underestimate, or decide not to pack because they didn't think they'd need them. Most of the time, they do.
01 Trekking poles
Trekking poles are the most borrowed item in the closet by a wide margin. Guests who haven't used them before are often skeptical, but the Ridgeline Traverse gains 2,400 feet and the descent on tired legs is where poles earn their keep. The closet has eight pairs in three different lengths. The sign-out sheet is on the clipboard by the front door.
If you've never used poles before, Laura or Meg can show you how to set the length correctly before you head out. The wrong length makes them more trouble than they're worth.
02 Headlamps
Guests underestimate how early it gets dark in autumn. By mid-November, sunset is before 5 pm. The Ridgeline Traverse takes six to eight hours for most people. If you start at 9 am, you're cutting it close. The closet has twelve headlamps with fresh batteries replaced at the start of each season.
A headlamp is also useful on the canyon route, which runs through a narrow sandstone canyon where the light fades earlier than on open trails. Pack one even if you're confident you'll be back in daylight.
03 Bear canisters
Bear canisters are required for overnight trips in parts of the San Bernardino National Forest. For day hikes from the lodge, they're not required, but guests doing the full Ridgeline Traverse sometimes prefer to carry one for their lunch rather than deal with a soft-sided bag in bear country.
The closet has six canisters. They're heavier than a stuff sack but they double as a seat on the granite slabs at the turnaround, which is a minor but genuine benefit.
The closet is there because forgetting gear shouldn't ruin a hike. Sign out what you need, bring it back clean, and tell Laura if anything breaks.