I’m thankful that the four of us were able to safely complete the hike to Alta Mountain Peak once again after 12 years. On the way up, there was a lot of fog, which actually made it cooler and kept the mosquitoes away, so it was nice. We pushed ourselves to reach the waterfall—about 2.5 miles—without taking a break, and after a short rest at Rachel Lake, we headed straight for the summit.
As we walked along the ridge, the fog was so thick that we couldn’t see the next false summits ahead. But after passing several false summits, we finally reached the last one. While enjoying the stunning surrounding views during lunch, the fog began to lift, revealing Hi Box Peak front us and the beautiful Lila Lake below, along with Rachel Lake and even distant Rampart Lake. The views on the way down were truly a feast for the eyes.
Descending past the Rachel Lake wasn’t as pleasant, with endless downhill stretches, exposed tree roots, and narrow trails—but we consoled ourselves with the breathtaking ridge views we had seen earlier. Since this will likely be my last time on this trail, it held deep meaning for me.
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