Made the long drive from the west side to find some marginally better hiking weather yesterday. Still some high overcast, but at least no rain. Parking lot was about 2/3 full at 10:45am.
This is a great social hiking trail since it is mostly on what looks like a former jeep road, so side by side walking is doable for most of the trip and the grade is pretty gradual for most of the ascent.
Yellow arrowhead balsamroot is busting about all over just above the TH and other varieties are just starting higher up. We had a nice view of the Enchantments from the Little Bear summit. There are only a few patches of snow remaining off trail near the top.
We opted to add the long loop around the summit, but you don’t see too much by going that way that you would miss. It is quite a bit more forested on that side so would offer a bit of relief on a warm, sunny day. Stats were 8 miles and 2200’ of climbing, but could have been done well with 5mi and 1800’
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