•Length: about 8 miles round trip
Reference: Hiking Northern Arizona; by Bruce Grubbs
Well four people departed from the Credit Union for this hike, either the weather scared them off, or people don't want to hike with me. It was a fairly cloudy and windy day as we departed the trail head parking lot. Usually this is an excellent hike to experience the fall colors of the Aspen but they had not really started to turn color yet. As we were in the trees for the first 2 and half miles the wind was not appreciated in its full strength. By the time we made it up to the saddle with Agassiz, the wind was whipping along at about 20-30 mph. We geared up with warmer clothes and a bit of food to climb the last thousand vertical feet or so. As we became more and more exposed above tree line on the ridge leading to the peak, the wind increased to the point where you had trouble keeping your balance. The last 200 foot stretch had to be made on hands and feet, so as to ensure you didn't get blown off the mountain. I estimate the winds at about 50-60 mph. We only stayed at the summit long enough for a few pictures and some food. We hightailed it down the mountain to the safety of the trees where they were groaning and creaking from the turbulent wind.