8.1 miles of hiking • 2500' elevation gain •
It was a cold and icy day but I wanted to bring in the New Years right - on the trail. On this clear but icy day, I decided Angel's Rest would be the best bet. A relatively short drive to the trailhead, and great views to take advantage of the clear skies. As I was on my way up, I passed several people that looked like they had been on the losing end of a prize fight. Approximately a 1/4 mile from the top of Angel's Rest, I came across a group of individuals that were building an improvised litter to carry out their injured friend. Uhhh ohhh... They insisted that I carry on with my hike, but I knew from experience that it would be difficult for four people to carry an injured person several miles. I was finally able to convince them to let me help, so we started our slow but steady journey back down the trail. After what felt like an eternity, we were able to get the woman safely down the trail.
The sun was rapidly setting, so up the trail I went, this time in overdrive. I was able to make it to the main set of switchbacks right below Angel's Rest before the sunset decided to put on a marvelous show. So I decided I would make this the 'destination' for today. After all the excitement and a wonderful sunset, it was time to head for home.
