At first, this hike was daunting to me. I had read about the famous forty switchbacks to the top and how many didn't make it on their first try. Even some of the people I met along the trail told me this was their second or third attempt. For others, it was going to be their second or third time summiting. It was one of those trials that I remembered as a college athlete where I'm just going to have to put my nose down and keep on trekking. Forty switchbacks later, well, I made it, and boy was it worth it.

I came to the trailhead alone on this one. Not many of my friends are willing to hike 2300 ft straight up with me (haha). I was not yet signed up for 6 Pack yet and was going to use this hike on my way to train for bigger and bad-er hikes in the area. In the past, I had been to this trailhead before to explore Bighorn Mine, which was on the side of the mountain that I told myself that I would return someday to summit. That day, there was no one at the trailhead and it was currently snowing at the time. Well, here I was again, and this time there were lots of people and sun. I had plenty of water and snacks, but I wanted to try out my new Potable Aqua and filtration kit.

A few switchbacks up I took a detour over to Lamel Spring and collected some extra water for later. I met and chatted with a few thru-hikers that told me that they were only 10% of the way done with the Pacific Crest Trail (they started at the Mexican border) and who had just stopped in at Wrightwood to get supplies for the next leg of the hike. Now with full packs and good spirits, I bid them good luck. I passed by a family with a couple little boys that were absolute troopers and seemed to be enjoying themselves even though other adults around them were getting in a good work out. At first, I counted the switchbacks to get a gauge as to how far along I was. At fourteen I stopped counting.

Before I got to the spring I had passed a group of older gentlemen that looked like well-seasoned hikers who allowed me to pass and go on ahead. They had been counting the switchbacks as well and I teased them that I hoped the number was larger than it actually was. After the time at the spring, I passed them again a little ways up taking a break off to the side. I decided to take a break as well and we got to chatting. I fell in behind them and joined them in their ascent about halfway up. In talking to one of the men I discovered that they were a group of friends that have really “been around,” so to speak. A hodge-podge group from all over the area, from Orange County to Thousand Oaks, they had climbed many notable peaks in the Pacific Northwest and Southwest — including Whitney, the grand-daddy of them all. This gentleman, in particular, hiked the John Muir Trail BEFORE summiting Whitney, to which he said was, “by that time a piece of cake” compared to the JMT. They had many great stories to tell of their past adventures, and I heard them all the way to the summit.

We got to the saddle and got to enjoy the presence of the famous 1500-year-old tree, Wally Waldron. After that, we made the small final push to the top and soaked in the 360-degree view from the ocean to the high desert. I could even see my house from up there (generally where it was). I spent my time with the two benchmarks and taking pictures with the flag and sign. We shared homemade candied-oranges and snacks together. They graciously allowed me to accompany them to the bottom where we shook hands and parted ways, giving each other luck on our future endevours.

This hike gave me a serious confidence boost, which eventually led me to sign up for 6 Pack.