After all the fog and cloud we’d had in the city, we finally dragged ourselves out to get above it. Our reward was a gentle hike in warm sunshine with endless mountain views. Glorious!
For all the times we’ve done this hike in the snow, this was the first time we’d followed this route up to Black Mountain in the summer. I have to say it’s preferable in the snow, as the trailbed is a series of steep switchbacks on hard-packed (but occasionally loose) rock and gravel. Easy enough on the ascent, but a little trickier on the return – the loose rocks and gravel have a tendency to roll away from you under your feet…
But it was worth doing, even though it was incredibly busy. (I guess people really did want to get above the clouds.) Just watch out for the ravens…
Distance: 5 km
Elevation gain: 300 m
Photos on Flickr
Being. Outdoors. 