I started out today planning on heading up to Tom Dick and Harry Mountain via Mirror Lake trail, but the early cloud cover convinced me that I should kill some time before heading out there. I pulled over and consulted my Sullivan hiking book and saw that there was a relatively short and relatively unknown(...at least to me) hike just a short distance from where I was. Castle Canyon. I don't recall ever seeing any T.R. for this place so I wasn't sure what I was going to get myself into. It still had an awesome sounding name so I figured what the heck. The trail head was easy to get to and well signed which is always a plus. I think the trail to Castle Canyon is about a mile and some change, but it picks up around 800ft. elevation in that time so it's no "cake walk". I had the place all to myself the entire trip, so if you're looking for solitude this place is good for that.The trail gets steep in a few areas and the loose gravel makes the footing a little treacherous, but manageable. I did have to hunker down and slide on my bum in a few places on the way back down for fear of tumbling head over heels to the bottom. I hiked up to where it goes from steep to REALLY STEEP, which I think might continue on to Zig Zag Mountain ( I left my guide book in my car, so I'm not positive about that). All in all, it was a pleasant way to while away an hour or so.
My plan to wait for the clouds to burn off worked and I continued on to the Mirror Lake trail head. As usual there were about ten thousand cars there. I shot right past the lake and up the TDH trail leaving the masses behind. This was my first time doing this hike and when I got to the top my jaw almost hit the floor. WOW. That view is incredible, although most of you already know that. As for the wildflower situation...they're definitely in decline. There are still a few patches here and there, but they're looking a little worse for wear. I just saw the latest McNeil Point T.R. and that's where you want to be for flowers it would seem. Especially Avalanche Lilies.
