We arrived at the trailhead just after sunrise. There was a light excited electricity in the air, this would be the first peak. Truthfully, 2 of the 4 of us had hiked this peak before, but this was our first peak together. The weather was made to order, not to hot, great visibility and the trail was dry, but not dusty. A few early blooming wildflowers peeked out at us along the way and we occasionally heard the calls of birds or rustling of critters in the leaves. It was a popular morning for the trail and we saw many other hikers at the peak and while hiking back down.

We felt accomplished, triumphant and also trepidatious about the other much larger peaks to come. To be continued…