This hike is one that has been on our bucket list for a few years. We actually tried it in 2019 and couldn’t do it due to weather. The Bayne’s have never done this hike either so we are all thrilled that we have the perfect weather conditions for hiking. I should say we are thrilled and nervous. This hike isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s estimated to take 3 or so hours to reach the peak at a distance of 5km each way.

In order to reach the start of the trail we drove up the curviest road ever to get there. Before we started a guy asked if he could catch a ride to the top. We were a little confused because he was standing with a bunch of people with him but he clarified it was only him. He was going to parachute down from the top. So we had a plus one.

After a few mins we are ready to officially begin. At first it started somewhat leisurely but quickly got real vertical real quick.

If you’re not into people’s vacation pictures you should probably skip this post because it’s gonna be real obnoxious. We did the hike in about 2:20 to the peak and 1:40 going back out. Well, the girls were 1:40, the boys were longer because they detoured. Will get into that later.

This hike had crazy high climbs and then descents. We would make it to the top and think we were done only to realize there was another steep angle to ascend. The plus side is that the views were amazing and so different all along the way.

I’m very grateful that the trail was marked so well the majority of the hike. The chains in places were also very useful. The last bit of the hike wasn’t especially well marked in one area but the kids assured me we were heading in the right direction.

I didn’t expect snow! I’m having Alaska flashbacks when I went down on my butt and Brooks lost his shoe.

I should clarify to say that Maddie struggled some at the beginning and middle of the hike. That is until she threw up her breakfast that wasn’t sitting well on her stomach. Greg, Jason and Jake had stayed back with her with Greg and Jason playing good cop bad cop with her. I honestly wasn’t sure she’d make it to the end but she did. I got a few of these pictures from Jake which I’m so grateful for.

Now is a good time to share that we had some people who were really afraid of heights and others who were not. I won’t name names (Greg for one). To go on the rock wasn’t as scary as it looked…I guess depending on your perspective. We won’t be talking about this next picture with said people who can’t handle it.

On the way down the boys wanted to go a different way. I thought they were racing us and knew they had picked the long way. What I didn’t know is that Jason was trying to go get a different vantage point out of the way to fly his drone. The girls won the race that wasn’t a race and I won by getting some amazing drone pics. I lost by not going with the boys though. So now I need a repeat hike.

The girls made it down the hill first and walked straight to the restaurant gift shop area and bought ice cream and ice cold waters. Jake and Logan were down next and did the same. followed by the rest of the boys.

All in all, a great day. Now we just need to make it back home for dinner.