SLIPPERY. Slippery. Wet and rotten leaves obscuring slick rocks and snaking roots vining under the golden carpet. Bring sticks/poles. Saw some a few trail runners. Gorgeous day.

I'm embarrassed this is my first visit to this gem of a park, when I've lived just a few miles away for years.

Arrived at the Whittaker trail head at 11 AM on a slightly drizzly Thursday and there was plenty of parking. I didn't check the condition of the porta-potty, but overall the maintenance of the park is outstanding. Upon arrival I was annoyed to find the posted trail map spray-painted over by some person with an empty life. I don't know how long it had been like that, but when I came back 2 hours later, a county worker was there cleaning it up. Nice!

I'm breaking in a new pair of boots and training an old pair of legs, and was looking to maximize climb. So I went to the peak and back twice: up both times via the Gombu cliffs, once down the same way and once via the Whittaker trail. The vegetation is so dense along the Gombu trail that it's easy to miss the "cliffs" aspect. But there's at least one short boot path off to the south side of the trail where you can look down and see how steep the topography really is. It's worth a look. I wish I'd taken a picture.

There are several bridges and walkways on the route, all in excellent shape. There was one large downed tree across the Whitakker trail I had to climb over.

At the true peak there's a memorial bench and a book inviting people to sign in and comment. When I arrived there was a young couple who seemed a bit surprised by my presence; they looked sheepish and made a hasty retreat. I went to sign the book and saw they had written "[gal] and [guy] smooched under a tree." I'm glad you had a good hike, gal and guy, and your smoochy secret is safe with me.

Lovely day for a hike, parking lot around 3/4 full at 2pm. Looped around the wilderness peak loop & detoured to Coal Falls, which were unfortunately all dried up. Great intertwined paths for some prolonged wandering in the wilderness. Ended up walking 7.1 miles over 2h45m. Nice hike!

Great trail. Well-maintained. The trees are the view! Great fern game. 1 hour 45 mins, but I was trying to move quickly and only rested for 5 mins at the top. 

I got the last parking spot (of ~16?) at 1pm. There were 3+ empty when I left at 2:45pm. 

Did the loop anticlockwise as suggested and felt this was a good choice, with more time to enjoy the ferns on the way down. 

Please keep your dog leashed if your dog *ever* runs up to strangers! Your dog may be harmless but you do not know the level of comfort of the stranger to dogs. 

Trail is in good condition, but erosion and use are increasing grade of trail and exposure of roots and rocks. Got to trailhead at 7, only car in lot. Finished before 9 and lot was full with one car waiting. Both of us clicked 5.2 miles, not 4.