More Peaks to Climb: 71>71 Jefferson June 23, 2014

Caps Ridge! This trail is high on my favorites list. A walk in the woods is nice --- but being above treeline puts me in a mood I'm not able to experience anywhere else.. Caps Ridge Trail gets me up out of the woods quickly. And then I get to scramble over rock and ledge looking for a hand hold here and there ------ oh yes, I'm a real mountaineer! It's short enough so that none of it feels tedious --- and the summit cone, even with it's boulder hopping, seems easier than the middle. Yes, Caps Ridge has a lot going for it.
I was up there today with the intent (and hope) of finding the alpine flowers on Montecello Lawn in heavy bloom. I make a loop over to Gulfside and then Cornice back to Caps Ridge. This route keeps me above treeline a bit longer and gets me off some of the boulders and down into the grasses and sedges where there is soil enough for the alpines. A few more days of warmer weather should pop out some patches of color. There was little today.
There was sunshine and warm temperatures and a comfortable breeze and only a few bugs --- a stellar day! (But, speaking of "bugs," ------- can anyone reading this tell me the name of the gigantic flies that appear to guard the summit rock on Jefferson? They look like a cross between a Horse Fly, Yellow Jacket and Vampire Bat! I didn't linger long at the actual summit for fear of bodily harm!)

I've posted photos of this hike before and other posters, on a number of hiking forums, have very good recent pictures of this same hike. I'll try not to repeat their great work. But for the non-hikers reading this, here are a few photos to give a flavor of the day: