I really didn't want to miss the color in West Fork this year, so I decided to head up after class on Tuesday. I got out at 10:00 and was at the trail head by 12:45 (I got into town at about 11:35) and hiked in since the lot was completely full. I wanted to go as far as I could and see Joel's famous spots from last year. Walking through that water to get there is freezing, although not as cold as when i fell through the ice last january, haha. At about 4:45 I headed back and really pushed myself. I didn't stop to rest or drink (did that on the go) until I got to my car. I wanted to get out near Bell Rock for some star trails before the sun was completely down so I could get my focus...that didn't happen. It's really hard to try and focus when it's dark and you're doing long exposures. I did two seperate exposures and left. I wish I would have stayed longer, but I was on 4 hours of sleep after hiking all day, and I had to get home to study for a test the next morning.