Easy Pass — Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024

Not-so-Easy Pass! What a beautiful hike, with the most amazing views that you will work for!
Highlights:
-Got to the trailhead at 10am on a weekday, 4 other cars in the lot. Saw about 5 people all day
-Toilet at the trailhead was clean and well stocked w/ TP and hand sanitizer!
-When I first got to the trailhead there was a little residue smoke from the Easy fire, which was gone by the time I finished my hike
-Despite being a sunny day, trail was shaded for 90% of my hike today (sun behind the mountain to the left while climbing), and was a little frosty/slick in places in the morning. If you were to start in the afternoon, you may have more sun.
-Lots of mushrooms along the first part of the trail!
-Fall foliage galore! So many reds and oranges and yellows- truly so beautiful and made taking lots of breaks on the climb up even more enjoyable
-LARCHES just started turning at the pass, will probably have about 1-2 weeks for all of them to hit their peak. There were a couple smaller ones that were already golden, but the older/larger trees were still in that limey green
-My watch showed 8 miles total (did some wandering at the top of the pass) with 3000ft elevation gain
-Happy hiking!