Golden Gate — Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022

We did a there and back trek up Golden Gate with the mountain socked in. We heard from a few people that the elevation gain was tough. On paper, it sounds like a nice quick trip, but it can be challenging. Trekking poles help. Most days you can see a marmot or two lounging on a few favorite rocks. Not today. The paintbrush is the star of the show, but the lupine is on its way. It's still just a small percentage of its usual glory. There are a lot of unofficial trails that have sprouted due to the long lasting snow. Golden Gate has one small patch of easy to traverse snow. If you're wondering if it's worth it to go up to the mountain when the mountain is feeling shy, YES. I love Paradise hikes (not in the driving snow or rain), but all the other weather YES. Pack for cold wind if the sun is not out. The top of Golden Gate can be blustery. Happy trekking!