The entrance to Staircase is currently closed.
Trail was in great shape with minor windfall to navigate. No snow to Flapjack and good selection of spots including hammock camping. Mosquitos out in force mornings and evenings. People with head nets were unbothered.
Day 2 was a day hike up to Gladys Divide. This is a must-do if you have the time. The payoff coming over the divide and looking down on the next lake is spectacular. 4-5 small snow fields to cross to the divide with no post holing (all of us just in trail runners with poles.
Made an attempt to get to the top of Mt Gladys. It’s much steeper here and microspikes would have been helpful. Ran out of time and turned around at the halfway point.
Trail was empty coming back. Found a note on our car that the area was being evacuated due to fire. Drove just past the pay station and had some firemen escort us for about a mile past the hillside where the Bear Gulch fire was burning. What a way to end it.
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