Started the hike off Bear Ridge loop trailhead at 2:30pm – my car was showing 87 degrees outside and it was really sunny. If it wasn't so hot outside, the hike going up would have been very pleasant – the trail was lush green and there were a ton of flowers. Most of the hike was pretty chill, almost like a walk through nature. But I knew from reviews that the last part would be steep – and I kept waiting and waiting for it to be steep, but it was just not coming and I knew the hike was coming to an end… Until I came across the sign telling me to take a right and that there's only 0.36 miles to the peak.

That 0.36 mile part is the only reason I'd consider this an actual hike. The sign basically told you to go straight up a big hill. The road was not only steep and slippery, but there some parts that were affected by the recent rains and weren't in the best condition. It took me 20 minutes each way on that segment, but the views from the top were totally worth it!!

Got up to the peak at 4:30pm, enjoyed the view. On my way back I saw a very big bright purple rattlesnake on the trail at the top – and the anxiety of running into another snake made my way down much more memorable. Luckily, I didn't run into another snake – but I did get swarmed by bugs. The entire way down I was pestered by bugs – two of them got into my eyes and I almost swallowed another one. On the bright side, the weather calmed down on the way down, as my car was showing 74 when I got back, and I was able to actually enjoy the rest of the hike (well, expect for the bugs).