Fifteen eager amateur peak baggers gathered at the State Park headquarters in Idyllwild on a crisp and sunny Saturday morning. This was especially rewarding after the foggy, dreary, typically "lowland" weather on our drive out. The four leaders got everyone to the trailhead and signed in, leaving many Sierra Club arrows along the complicated route.
After many "What kind of a tree is this?", "Isn't this a great view!", and "How much farther is it?" stops along the way plus a very pleasant three hours of leisurely hiking on the excellent trail, everyone had signed the register and turned to tigers as they tore into those lunch sacks.
We spent a wonderful hour sunning ourselves, eating lunch and enjoying the great view from the rocks just below the summit. It was here that another couple caught up with us and joined the group making 21 in all (11 men, 10 women).
A quickened pace and two hours of hiking got us down to the cars by 4:00 p.m. Everyone seemed to enjoy this beginner's hike, even our one casualty (a wasp sting on the calf). Hopefully, we will see many of these new faces on future 100 Peak trips.
