So I saw that there have been some successful ascents to the summit since my hike last Saturday Feb 9th, but I wanted to make this post ASAP to warn others that while the rain has given us beautiful snow capped mountains and has revitalized waterfalls, that precaution should be taken.

Sturtevant Falls is gushing, and the Sturtevant Trail is mostly easy to find (there will be dense foliage from all the rain we've received), the difficulty comes at the last three miles to the summit. On my way down the switchbacks from the top, because there was so much fresh snow the ground below me at one of the switchbacks was unstable to the point where it collapsed and I slid down the side of the mountain…

I am SO VERY LUCKY to be alive and to have not broken anything. Thankfully, I was able to climb up to where the trail continued was but I want to emphasize that I am currently covered in black bruises and scratches all over my body. And again, thankfully I made it to Sturtevant Camp where I was able to get help and medical attention and the camp volunteer gave me a cabin for the night to recover so I could hike out the next day (which turned what should have been a day hike into an overnighter).

But in short, no hike is worth dying over (ironically I would not realize how relevant my instagram photo would be). And while there have been people who have successfully climbed to the summit it does not mean anyone should rush to hike it anytime soon, especially with the expected rainfall in the next few days. I had regular standard hiking gear (hiking boots with good tread, hiking/athletic layers, daypack) and I am not sure if hiking poles or microspikes would have made a difference.