Eight of us headed up State Route 66 into an ominous-looking low white cloud. By the time we reached the parking lot, a mix of sleet and snow was blowing (it was about 38 degrees). Once we got out of the parking lot and were sheltered behind the ridge, the wet stuff had stopped and we were greeted by a wet trail and an emerald green forest.
The sun played peek-a-boo with the clouds over the next hour or so and did not totally emerge until we started the loop around the mountain. Then we were rewarded with a perfect view of Mt. Ashland and all the way down to valley to Ashland. We stopped for lunch on a group of rocks overlooking the valley, but after twenty minutes, were chased off by a building breeze and a drop in temperature. We sought shelter in the forest as we completed our loop and returned to the car. At the cars, we were met by a cold headwind and the same mix of sleet and snow we had four hours earlier.
It had been a few years since I had done this hike, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It is fairly flat (650 ft total elevation) seven-mile trail; an easy hike perfect for an early spring walk.
Bob
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