Type of Hike
Day hike
This was originally a lark. My plan was to go up to Sunrise and watch/photograph the sunrise and go home (my knees were still sore from my recent hikes and a run I had gone on with my National Guard unit).
Let me tell you, it gets really cold up there at 6400 ft at 5:45 in the morning! I was just glad that I had brought my 10 essentials with me, as I ended up using all of my extra clothing to stay warm!
I was so inspired by the Sunrise that I tooled around the Visitor Center (closed for the season) and saw that there was this short, 1.5 mi Nature Hike. So I started up, it was a pretty easy hike, and I was stopping every few feet to take pictures. The views were like nothing I've ever seen before. OK, I'd been to Sunrise once before, but it was a very short visit and I didn't have a chance to hike around.
I was maybe a half mile into it when I saw the sign saying Dege Peak trail 1.4 mi, and decided what the heck, why not? So I trundled along, knees complaining moderately and got to see fantastic view after fantastic view. Let me tell you, getting up to the top Dege Peak, AND discovering that I somehow had cell reception was the high point of my morning, as I began sending picture messages out to all of my friends and family! After an early lunch (9am), I headed back down. to finish the nature trail.
All told, it was the best 4.3 mile hike ever! I'm definitely planning on going back up there and checking out the other trails because I'm pretty sure they're awesome too :)
Comments