I did a double-header on what turned out to be a sizzling summer day and now my legs don't work anymore. Hit the trail just after 8:30am and went straight up to Lookout Mountain. Trail is in good shape, save for a couple of brushy spots and a small patchy of mucky drainage, largely because someone (WTA?) has clearly been doing trail work. Thanks to whoever that was!
From the very first step, the trail climbs with a vengeance and it basically never stops. (As NW writer Bill Dietrich says, "it builds character like a Puritan preacher.") The lookout is lovely, but the visibility wasn't great owing to what I think was wildfire smoke that was impairing the views in 360 degrees. Bugs were definitely out too, which were mostly tolerable, except for the biting black flies that have a way of (literally) getting under my skin.
I scarfed down a nectarine and some trail mix, then descended back to the trail junction. From there, I took a crack at the Monogram Lake trail, which was built with the same ethos. Same story on this trail: mostly in great shape, but with a little intermittent brush and one short muddy spot that's probably eligible for a boardwalk treatment. Lake was lovely and, oddly, almost vacant. I crammed a sandwich in my mouth, hobbled back up to the ridge, popped the ibuprofen and enjoyed the descent.
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