This may take a while. I loved this freaking mountain. I really wasn't expecting much. After climbing Whitney, I figured everything else would be anti climatic. Wrong. This is a special mountain. I quit counting the other hikers when I got to 120, yet, it didn't seem crowded. There were lots of folks with DOGS. It was a nice crowd, and I must say, around half the hikers were gals, not what you normally find when highpointing. Guys are ok, but, they're just, well, smelly.
First of all, note the diversity of the trail. The first mile and half or so has lots of nice soft trail like this.
There are two paths leading up from the main parking lot. Go up via trail #4, the trail that passes the "Little Devils Tower", and come back down trail #9. The two trails join together for the final climb.
Due to time constraints I didn't get to do the short side hike over to the Little Devils Tower, about half a mile, I think. All the more reason to go back.
As you gain altitude, the you encounter more rock. There is still plenty of soft footing, until you get past the halfway point.
Now here's a sampling of how the trail can get pretty rocky as you near the summit. You'll find a few sections like this, that make you appreciate the earlier soft stuff.
Aliens! Is it just me, or do these formations look like a group of friendly aliens that petrified in place? Ok, maybe not. I think all of the cool rock formations are what really adds to the magic of this mountain.
Giants! Tilt your head to the left, and squint, and these guys look kinda like giants. Or something. Well, they are big, and almost seem alive. There are so many rock formations, if you're a "rock guy" like me, you can't stop taking photos. I ran out of memory card space twice.
I love moss. There, I said it. Whenever I hike, I always end up with a couple of moss photos. Here's one of them. I also like big, lush, fern beds. Call me crazy.
What's a climb without a vista? Well, this hike has plenty of vistas, like this one. Now, I do have to give you a warning. If you take the #4 trail for your ascent, there is a pretty substantial drop, at what seems like should be the two and a half mile point. At one point, I thought I had gone the wrong way, and almost panicked.
Then, as soon as it finally bottoms out, look up at the peak on the horizon, and you can see the tower on top of the peak. Only, it looks like it's still three miles away. Don't you hate it when that happens? Shortly afterward, you join up with trail #9 and begin the final ascent.
Soon you'll come to a sign letting you know you can't take your horse any further, and there you can tie it up. Then, you'll see some cliffs, go through a small tunnel and climb some metal stairs. Now it's getting real exciting. You feel as if you're about to discover something.... the Stairway to Heaven!
Just around this bend lies the tower.
Here you'll find the coolest tower of any highpoint. This thing is just awesome. Multiple rooms, doors, stairs and platforms. Lots of photo-ops. Some nice fellow from Wisconsin even gave me an ice cold beer! Talk about trail magic. That was one of the best beers I've ever had the pleasure to drink.
Here's how it looks if you kinda hang out of the top observation tower window and take a photo! Vertigo anyone? (click on this one and enlarge it)
This happy hiker is taking a break on the way back down the tower\stairs\cave section. See the contentment, and awe?
At the end of the day, this is why we climb the mountain.
Parting shot: Fly into Denver, rent a car, go to Cheyenne, Montanta and spend the night in the Plains Hotel downtown. Go on a Friday night, and go to the country bar behind the hotel, and have a beer. Or two.
You can easily hit the highpoint in Nebraska, and head up to Custer. Take the long way, through the back roads.
If you have time, do Mount Rushmore too, while you're in the area. You can easily spend a week in this area, and not get bored.
