We had about 45 hikers meet Leora and me on this hike of Mount Hillyer on a nice warm day in the middle of summer. Even though I finished the HPS list on Mount Hillyer in November of 1988, I had never hiked to the top of this peak. Lou Brecheen and I had in 1988 made arrangements to "finish the list" with a helicopter ascent. Back in 1988 we had more than 97 hikers meet the helicopter with Lou Brecheen and I on the summit of Mt. Hillyer. On our hike of 2001, ten or twelve of these same hikers joined us again.
This year's hike was made via Route 2 from the Chilao Flats Visitor Center. Our group hiked up via the Silver Moccasin Trail. The ascent was routine but on our descent, we got off route on one of the many use trails. Someone with a GPS picked up our deviation from the route almost immediately. Jerry Keating and Walt Whisman and I scouted and soon we were back on the correct trail.
We had a pleasant summit party and I read THE LOOKOUT account of my List Finisher outing to the group. Near the cars on the return just past Horse Flats Campground, some folks encountered a rattlesnake crossing the trail and gave it time to do just that.
Thanks to Jerry and Walt and to my wife, Leora, for serving as assistant leader.
