After a windy night of camping with a few folks from ABC near the intersection of FR 245 and FR171 (great spot, BTW), we started up to Snowbowl, the end of the shuttle hike that was planned for the group. Since Wendy and Angela decided to do the shorter route, I decided to opt for that, too. I had heard that the Weatherford trail was an old Jeep road - and I had nothing to prove by making this a longer trek. Only this peak has been mocking me since my first attempt May 2009, when, after making it to the saddle, weather thwarted the final ascent.

This time, the weather was perfect. Absolutely perfect. There was just a little bit of wind and plenty of sunshine - but not too hot, not too cold. Just perfect. I had a celebratory Sierra Nevada Tumbler. The perfect brew for the perfect autumn day. Do you think I said it enough? Pefect.

And then almost unexpectedly (since I knew that Liz was in the area - her car was at the TH), I got to see Liz again, and meet Joe and Preston at sunset at the trailhead.