Ptarmigan Ridge — Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020

It was a sunny day with a cooling breeze that kept the bugs at bay when we hiked Ptarmigan Ridge to the Portals. There were several snow fields to cross but we did not need to use spikes, though poles were helpful. The trail was in decent condition, though rocky and requiring that you pay attention, especially as you get closer to Camp Kaiser. The section beyond Camp Kaiser has loose and crumbly rock as you head uphill toward the Portals with faint trail leading off in several directions, making route finding a little challenging if you aren't familiar with the trail. We left Artist Point early in the morning so we did not encounter many people on the trail on our way to the Portals, but on the return the trail became pretty busy after passing Coleman Pinnacle. Most people were courteous, social distancing and putting on face coverings. The scenery on this hike is magnificent making it well worth the effort.