What a gorgeous day, making for a stunning hike and unforgettable summit.

We started at the Black Crater trailhead, found off Mackenzie Pass. While there were a good collection of cars in the parking lot, the trail itself was not crowded at all, although we did pass a couple small groups.

The trail starts climbing almost instantly, although it’s an easy “rolling” climb for the first couple of miles. The wildflowers were in full bloom and the fire damage to the trees made a stark background for their colorful blossoms. We found ourselves rewarded with some great views of surrounding mountains within the first mile.

As we reached the summit we came across several patches of icy snow. While the majority of them were easy to cross, one of them posed a challenge. Carefully placed footsteps got us across, but we both would have felt more comfortable with a set of yaktracks.

While the views on the way up are breath-taking, the real prize comes (as always), at the summit. We spent some time at the top to enjoy some snacks and a beer before starting the easy hike back to the trailhead.