Hiked this one with my boy Dave. First time getting after it in the snow, and it is a different beast for sure. Every mile is a mile earned, and it was a big wakeup call to make sure that my gear is legit. Waterproof boots and gloves are a must, because once those got wet I was struggling. I'm learning how to hike; one rookie mistake at a time.

The first 2 miles at lower elevation were fine temperature wise, but the last 5 the snow picked up. Next chilly one, I'm going to remember to overpack on food and layers, because you can't really speed run in the snow. Micro-spikes were a must, and it was relatively easy to lose the trail if you aren't staying too alert.

Dave got some epic photos as usual, including the greatest pic ever taken of us (thanks random stranger). The views from the top were wild, with some serious overcast overlooking the forest. We felt like we were in the sniper mission from the OG call of duty games. If I had more layers, I definitely would have hung out longer up there, but we kept it moving to stay warm.

We got down from the mountain in about 8 hrs, 13.4-ish miles in total. Caught a nice sunset as we were getting to the car. These hikes are what life is all about. The most rewarding type of challenge you can find.