Sat, Sep 12 2015 - Highwood Ridge & Grizzly Ridge (View Event Details) Event Coordinator(s): (To see who coordinated the hike, log in to the Member Area) Participants: (To see who hiked, log in to the Member Area)

Write Up:
This exploratory trip was undertaken by 4 people in excellent weather, and took an experienced group 8 hours activity time. Hike started at 8:30 at 8 degrees, ended at 4:30 at 19 degrees at trailhead. Weather was cloudless, melting almost all snow of previous weekend storm, and trails and ground were mostly dry (I had been warning of possibly wet and slippery conditions). We ascended Highwood Ridge with a minimum of scrambling in 1:30, encountering ptarmigan and sheep. Had lunch at 11:00 on a knoll of the ridge. Descended from low spot on ridge northward by animal trail to steep meadow, and to Paradise Valley below. Travel to our chosen ascent to SW was blocked by deep bush so we ascended about 500 feet on a 40 degree slope in a grassy chute and over and around nearby rock bands (the crux). Grizzly Ridge was rocky and dry, group summited on Grizzly Peak, descended to Grizzly Col and out through Pocaterra Ridge trail to parking lot. The Highwood Ridge portion of the trail is suitable for intermediates, with excellent views and easy walking on the ridge crest. Descent into Paradise Valley is fairly easy, but ascent onto Grizzly ridge is very difficult, and needs experienced hikers and route finders and should be done with groups of only 4 to 6.