Out for another conditioning hike with Lori and Dinah. This time we took advantage of the prime wildflower bloom on Dog Mt. After enjoying the flowers on Dog we went over and hike up to the top of Wind Mt. to give us 3800 ft. total elevation gain we needed. It was a beautiful sunny day, warm, with almost no wind.
Dinah and Lori getting ready to hit the trail. On the trail at 8:15 am.
Trail Head Sigh. 3.8 miles and 2800 elevation gain.
At this point just a few cars in the parking lot as we start out.
Lori making her way up the first set of switch backs.
We of course did the more difficult.
Dinah at the trail junction. Our speed bunny. We did not see her and her 30 lb pack again until the next junction.
Lori coming up the last section before the switch back that take you out to the meadow.
Looking down the gorge and to Wind Mt. from the site of the old fire lookout. Lori’s time 1 hour 47 minutes.
Heading up the trail to the summit. Green and yellow on the hill.
Balsamroot blooming hillside.
Lori heading up on the trail to the summit.
More the hillside of Balsamroot.
Philox blooming. There were many other flowers blooming.
Another flower photo.
Trail to the rocky section. If you are new exposure this can be a scary section.
Looking back down the trail at the hillside.
Almost to the summit. On top I had everyone dump there packs so we could see if they had the hiking essentials.
On the back side trail looking over to Wind our next hike of the day.
Looking down over the meadow.
Finishing up the backside trail and getting back to Pup the crowd was building.
Balsamroot Flower.
Dinah and Lori at Pup on our way down.
More flowers on the way down. We took the less difficult trail back to the parking lot.
By the time we got back to parking lot it was over flowing with cars. By Lori’s count we passed 270 people on the way down.
New hike was up Wind Mt. For Wind Mt this was a busy day.
We pulled out pack out and got going again. Dinah had to some text messaging first. These young people can’t be without there cell phones.
Lori heading up the trail. Trail damage and blow down was amazing.
Looking over to Dog mt.
Heading over the last talus area before the summit.
The moss looked like it was late August not May.
Entering the Spirit Quest area.
Looking down the gorge from the top.
We take a break on the rocks. Lori works on the blister she developed.
View east to Dog Mt. From here it was back down and head home.