Ptarmigan Ridge — Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024

Winter is almost here.

If you’re into mountains, this trail is definitely for you. After hiking around the Bellingham area for over two months, my favorite route used to be the Chain Lakes Loop, but this one won me over today. Plus, you don’t need a high-clearance SUV to battle potholes just to get to the trailhead.

I’m not an experienced hiker, so I wasn't prepared today. It was in the low 40s, windy, and cloudy. Note to self: bring a winter coat next time. Huge shoutout to my teammates for lending me their coats because I wouldn't have made it otherwise.

Heads up: Summer’s officially over, and it looks like we’ve skipped right past fall and landed smack in the middle of winter.

I didn’t find the trail too tough—probably because I stopped about 500 times to take photos