Let's start with the road. It's mentally draining and seems to go on FOREVER. I'm pretty good at pothole dodging, but there is no dodging the potholes on this one. There's just way too many of them. For miles. And then you hit a section of big jagged rocks and you just wonder if your tires are going to survive. I mean, mine did, but I can't say that wasn't what I was thinking.
The hike itself is challenging. It's constant up will little relief, except for the saving grace that you're in the trees most of the time, so yay for shade! But then, then you hit the divide and you remember why you wanted to hike this one again. The spectacular views of Baker and Shuksan and all the other ones whose names I should know by now and sadly do not.
I was told by several hikers I had to go 4 miles, which I think was around the 3rd knoll because the wildflowers were still blooming, so that's what I did and it was quite beautiful. I would have loved to have sat for a while to read my book or just be quiet, but if you kept still the bugs descended. I didn't notice them when I was moving, but as soon as I stopped they were really annoying. So alas, I ate my lunch and moved on.
I did this one 5 years ago and I probably won't do it for another 5 or so. I need to distance my memory of that road first :)
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