First, this is no 5.4 miles like WTA and the TH sign says. More like 6.7-6.8 miles which was confirmed by GPS and another hiking website. Not that it matters, just funny that another 1.3 miles appeared out of nowhere.
Remember to remove anything out of your car that is valuable. You're greeted by a "high crime rate sign" as you first pull in which is pretty sweet. If you sift through the previous trip reports you'll read about broken windows (confirmed by the multiple piles of shattered glass), tire punctures, and other fun stuff that will put a damper on your day after a great hike. Pro tip: Put a fake blow up doll in the passenger seat...jk jk.
The hike is moderate, the hard part comes towards the end where icy switchbacks feel like they'll never end. Get through that and you're golden. I definitely took a few breaks, but only to enjoy the view wink wink nudge nudge.
The first half of the trail is mostly running water, puddles, or mud so wear something waterproof/resistant. We saw A LOT of people in shoes, shorts, and sandals. It was awesome. To each their own I suppose. The last half had snow that gradually became deeper and more prevalent. We wore snow boots with icetrekkers and had no problems at all. We did notice quite a few people slipping on the switchbacks on their way up as we came down. It's always better to over prepare than under.
Overall, this is a great trail with great views. You definitely do not need to be an expert. As a novice, weekend only hiker we survived with a few quick breaks on the switchbacks. It is definitely worth the view. Cheers!
Comments