We arrived by 7:30 am to the Vincent Gap trailhead parking lot, which was already full and the bathrooms were already stinky and had no toilet paper.

The trail was filled with groups, PCT hikers on their way to Canada, and of course, Boy Scout Troops because this mountain is named after the founder of the Boy Scouts: Lord Baden-Powell, whose marker is at the top of the peak.

There are 44 switchbacks in 4 miles to the top of the peak. However, past the 2 mile mark, snow still is covering some of the switchbacks. It is currently melting and the hikers have made dirty footprints in the snow to follow. The snow is slushy to tread. You have options as you cross the snow:

1. Hike through the snow (with or without crampons/microspikes)

2. Take the alternate trails people have made up and down the mountain, which are steep up and down loose rock/mud.

We did a combination of both of these. We had microspikes, but most of the 10 snow crossings we could cross easily so we didn’t put them on. There were about 3 that were difficult and I fell twice down the snow hill. Everyone else in my group did just fine and didn’t fall.

Still, it was a beautiful day on the mountain and we completed another peak!