My mom and I hiked the Wilderness Peak loop on this foggy, mid-January Wednesday morning starting at 10:00 am sharp and ending at 12:45 pm. Moments upon our ascent, the fog started lifting as gentle rays of run cut through it, creating a gorgeous effect among the trees. Compared to another nearby Squak Mountain trail I'd recently hiked (Margaret's Way), the trees were less dense, making this trail a good option for when you want to hike but want to soak in some morning sun instead of being obscured by tree cover.
Although traffic is audible in the first mile or so up to the first crossroads, it quickly gives way to a bubbling creek running alongside the path. At the intersection, we took the Gombu route per the WTA description; at 1.3 mi rather than 1.4 to the top, this is the slightly steeper way up--perhaps helpful for avoiding overly steep descents. This stretch contained most of the switchbacks, which numbered few, but nevertheless provided a satisfying workout at a faster pace. Before we knew it, we had reached the bench that comprised the "summit," beyond which we couldn't see any higher point.
We got kind of lost on the way back. Immediately after the intersection with Shy Bear Pass was another sign bearing the eponymous name of the trail above two subheaders: one directing to the trailhead, the other to a "High Point Peak." With the arrow denoting the trailhead rubbed out and my mind distracted by our conversation, I forged ahead to the unplanned High Point, which led to a bench at the top of a dead-end hill. No worries--this detour set us back only a quarter mile each way. Soon we were back on the Whitaker portion of the loop back to the trailhead. This side offered novel sights from the Gombu path, including a set of boardwalks amid a gorgeous swampy area in which laid an impressively sized boulder, covered top to bottom in ferns. Descending, we re-entered the fog in full force, admiring the accentuated sunbeams and contrasting foreground-background effects.
At the last half mile, we enjoyed a light lunch on a trunk supporting the first bridge you pass on the trail. Although we started shivering shortly after sitting down, we still count it a win to be able to eat a light meal by a water fall in January! As for gear, I got by great in normal, slightly elevated sneakers. It hadn't rained heavily in about a week, so most of the muddy areas were not slippery. Poles recommended for the way down but no complaints without.
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