Hiked Alpine Lookout from the Round Mountain trailhead. Started from the trailhead at 6:30 am, with just a bit of light in the east, and returned to the car just before 12:30 pm. We spent about 15 minutes wandering around at the top and maybe 15 more minutes total taking breaks along the way.
Views were incredible, no haze at all, some low level wisps of blue smoke in the valleys. The air was dead calm everywhere except the lookout itself and the low narrow gap between the long flat section of ridge and the final summit push. Air temperature was above freezing the whole time and got pretty warm in the late morning but the ground was still noticeably frosty in spots even at noon. There is a surprising amount of shade for a ridge hike, we didn't feel too exposed.
The road is in good condition, but with enough twists and turns and blind corners that you're not going to beat your map app's predicted ETA by driving like my brother. Low clearance cars might have to worry about the occasional loose rock in the middle of the road.

Comments