After this story snow filled winter and spring, took it off, and finally began my challenge peaks.  And boy, taking 8 months off the mountain really had me sucking wind.

In any case, got to RedBox at dawn, and was surprised to find an empty parking lot, on Memorial day Sunday.  Even after finishing the hike, there were still parking spots a bit after 10.  Fog and gloom driving up the mountain.  But picture perfect conditions, clear and sunny at about 50 degrees of wind free hiking, with some wildflowers blooming.  Some flowers I've never seen before.  Noticed or I should say heard a stream in a gulch was flowing just after you start your ascent past the crossroads to strawberry fields.  But wasn't able to hike down to it, even though the gulch seemed like it was only about 50 feet off the trail.  Also note, the sign to the lower Strawberry Fields trail is no longer there, so go up, and not the wider trail.