Military Ridge, Red Cedars, Surprise Creek & Shangri La — Thursday, Mar. 3, 2022

Went for a short day hike on this early spring day. Parked at Harvey Manning Park and started up from there. Originally intended to take the trail across to Big Tree Ridge, but decided to start with a little more vertical and so jumped onto the Military Ridge Trail to Red Cedars, Surprise Creek, Shangri-La, and ended at the Million Dollar View pergola. The Military Ridge trail was in the worst shape of the other trails, but just relatively. It was more muddy and there was a portion that was impossible to pass without substantial mud and/or water in the shoes, but other than the wet the trails were clear, easy to follow, and completely empty. I didn't see a single other soul until I reached the top, and then saw just one other person on the trail on the way back down. Weekday hiking is great for solitude!