Peak 4 of 6: Mission Peak

I was looking to extend this hike to add more distance & elevation, so added a couple of nearby peaks (Monument Peak Northwest, Monument Peak, Monument Peak North). Glad I did. It enhanced the trip with more awesome views & a huge radio tower! Pretty sure I could see Rose Peak from that side.

Perfect, cooler weather throughout the morning until about 11am. That’s when the sun came out strong & it got hot.

If this helps at all: For casual hikers, I think it’s best to go up & come back down on the Hidden Valley trail. The other one, Peak Meadow to Horse Heaven, was way  steeper. On the way down Peak Meadow, I ran into several people really struggling to go up. I mean, it’s definitely a workout either way, but if you’re looking for a more enjoyable/social experience, Hidden Valley’s the way to go. Coming down Peak Meadow was challenging b/c of some patches of steepness over loose gravel.