People bag on Mt. Wilson, and I'll admit that I am sometimes among those people, but hiking Mt. Wilson in the winter is a different experience from Spring or Summer and well worth the effort.

It just shy of crisp when we started and was really delightfully cool all day.

I've done this hike a few more times than a few times, so I'm used to it, but it was Gracie's first time and I was happy to go up with her. Counting off the sections and taking it easy. It was a little disconcerting to see the broken tree at Orchard Camp, but all things pass eventually, and that tree had a good run. As always it's a grind to Manzanita Ridge and the bench, but Gracie was a trooper. From there it's an easy walk to the Toll Road, then a little grind up the fire ravaged trail to the parking lot. Unexpectedly there was snow on the ground, not just a couple of little patches in the bushes, but real snow. It was a little chilly at the top, and I wish the cafe had been open so I could have gotten a cup of hot chocolate and some pie ala mode, but we endured. It was chilly and windy and the floor at the pavilion was a skating rink so we didn't linger too long. Just long enough for a sammich and a cold Powerade and then back down the trail. We made good time and talked to some nice people, they were hikers so they're almost guaranteed to be nice. A little pleasant conversation and a nice walk and Gracie had bagged Wilson for the first of her 6 Pack this year, and I've got two and two alternates.

I know people like to hate on Wilson, but take my advice and hike it when it's cool and you'll have a different opinion.