Paddy-Go-Easy Pass — Sunday, Jun. 30, 2024

Paddy goes hard!  This trail is truly beautiful and totally overlooked.  True Robin, Tuck, Marmot, Jade and many more destination are nearby, but this is a spectacular trail and on the last Sunday in June with good weather we were the ONLY people on it!  Hiking by yourself on a summer weekend day hike: achievement unlocked!

The trail gets to business right way and stays all business to the top.  It is an unrelenting uphill pace.  You can split the experience in thirds: 1st third can get a little bushy and muddy, but wild flowers are a riot of colors: lilies, Indian paint brush, columbine, sky rockets, lupine everywhere.  In this section the trail crews have been very hard at work and most of the blow downs have been cleared.

By a third of the way through it opens up in to massive every grander views of the river valley.  The Mt. Daniel mastiff grows larger above the opposing ridge and everywhere classic glaciered snow capped peaks come into view.  There are the hardest blowdowns to get by in this section but they are all manageable, a few requiring a bit of balance and gymnastics. 

Finally in the last third you emerge into truly airy country.  High sparse sub alpine forest, rock gardens full of flowers and lingering patches of snow.  Finally after 3+ miles that feels like more and 2700ft you hit the pass. The Cradle at nearly 7500ft dominates the view, standing like a mini-Mt Stuart. 

The way to sprite lake from here on June 30th was still covered by a few feet of snow.  We had micro spikes, but opted to turn around at the pass.  An intrepid group could make it, but be prepared for a snow traverse at least until it melts out.  The high point to the south of the pass also looked like a pretty straight forward scramble in dry conditions, for another time.

The amble down was delightful and all the easier to take in the sweeping views.  Both up and down we heard grouse and their low bass thumping sounds.  Mt Daniel playing in and out of clouds.  And solitude.  A total 10 of a day.