16.5 miles of hiking • 4500' elevation gain •
Glorious day to hike. Wonderful companions and one stellar view after another. Starting at Hamilton mountain TH, we went up to the summit and down to the saddle. Took Don's cutoff trail from the saddle, crossed the creek at the upper bridge and proceeded up to take in Phlox point. Took the westside trail down and then looped back east, crossed the lower bridge and then headed back to the Hamilton trail and our car. Wonderful day, lovely dusk views of the gorge. No snow, anywhere on those trails except one small patch off to the side. It was just to nice to stay inside.