Tuesday’s plan was a split squad affair. Some of us wanted to tame the west peak, while the remaining crew opted for a little local shopping.
I’m not really sure what to call it, but it seemed a lot like a state park that has a path from a trailhead to the treeline on the west peak. It rose 800 feet in elevation over the course of 2.5 miles. Beyond the treeline, the peak rises 1600 more feet over a mile of rock – no trail there.
The ride up to the trailhead took a couple hours, and it was a rugged trip. Dirt roads, no guard rails, and an ever-increasing incline were a constant source of entertainment. It was a little surreal to look straight across the road and not see anything…until you look down. Trees were everywhere and there was very little else. Beautiful.
At the trailhead there was one other vehicle – an open top jeep from Texas. We got our bearings, picked our trail, packed our water and snacks, and headed out. The trail was what you might expect in a state park. It was clearly marked, well worn, and very easy to follow. We knew our destination was 2.5 miles away and that most of the trip would be uphill. It was a little rocky in some parts, smooth in other parts, but the views along the way were spectacular.
Again, the weather plays a role in this story. It was cloudy and a bit chillier than expected when we parked, so most of us threw on our sweatshirts right away. At about the halfway point, we pretty much knew that we would not make it to the end of the trail due to the darkening clouds. It wasn’t raining, and we weren’t quite sure which way the wind was blowing, but it was about time to halt our progress. Reluctantly, we turned around and headed back toward the vehicles. Lucky us, the skies decided to open up and…wait for it…HAIL. That’s right. Not rain, but hail. Our pace quickened as we were being pelted from above by the relatively small bits of hail. Small, yes, but painful nonetheless. I’m very glad I was wearing a cap plus a hoodie. Those without anything on their heads were complaining the loudest on the way back and I don’t blame them a bit. Hail is much better viewed from inside a house than from an open trail.
I almost forgot about the jeep. You might guess what the inside of the Jeep looked like when we arrived back to the parking lot. HA! Piles of hail in the back seat and on every other flat surface.
Not really knowing what to expect for the day, I didn’t bring my camera because I didn’t want to carry it. After the first half mile I was wishing I had it with me. At the end of the trek I was glad I didn’t bother to bring it.