This was one of those hikes that leaves you knocked out cold by 5:55pm with your chilled, half-eaten dinner left out to follow suit.

First 2 miles of this hike is a steady incline of 2,000 feet. Once it levels off you’re plopped into a pine wilderness, a rolling green scenery.  The air was crisp, and we climbed high enough so that the grey clouds that once loomed overhead were now misting below our feet, only sunshine and blue skies peaked through the arbor canopy.

To officially snag this peak, you have to climb a 30 foot boulder using only rope, a ladder, and Jesus. I much prefer the view from the lookout tower instead, but nonetheless the 360 degree views of mountain range hit me deep in my soul.

I also had an absolutely fabulous queen accompany me to my first 10 mile hike. She’s so riveting, I didn’t notice the elevation and miles up-ticking as we soaked in every lunge and lizard of the ascent.

We saw horned lizards crawl from the earth like crabs, a snake that slithered away from under my foot at the peak, snakes sunbathing off to the side of the trail, moss coated logs, and all the critters in between.