Two trains of thought when picking this hike...

1.) It's a national holiday. Find a backcountry hike. Hope there are no crowds. Grumble to myself when I inevitably can't find the solitude I'm seeking.

OR...

2.) It's a national holiday. There will be crowds everywhere. Pick a popular hike. Low expectations will equal no disappointment when I inevitably can't find the solitude I'm seeking.

I guess I'm a man of low expectations.

I took my sister on her first peakbag. Crowds weren't too bad heading up the Wind Cave Trail. We bypassed the Wind Cave and headed up to 3127. We had the peak to ourselves for about ten minutes before a family of four crept up behind us. Nice views of the snow-dusted peaks.

By the time we got back down to the Wind Cave the trail was beyond packed. Children screaming everywhere. Joggers giving us casual hikers dirty looks. People hiking in shorts two sizes too small. Ok, I'm over-complaining. Life is what you make it, right? I got to introduce my sister to the joys of hiking. I'm pround she made it all the way to the peak. So, all in all, it was a pretty good trip.