It is 48F when we get up. Hmm, pretty cool for a hike but we’ll give it a shot.  Backpack packed, boots on, water bottles filled, here we go.  The heat in the car feels good as we head for the trail head.  Hmm, the temperature drops, 45, 40, by the time we reach the trail head at 7304ft it is 36F.  Maybe we shouldn’t have worn shorts!  We are here, let’s go.  Just a couple hundred feet into the hike we cross a marshy spot where the ground is actually crunchy, it is icy.  Once we navigate that we are reminded that we chose a Peak trail.  The switchbacks are steep and rocky and I am glad for a chance to stop and watch the birds around us.  We both are panting a bit more than anticipated.  A flat ridge section with a great view of distant mountains gives us a chance to catch our breath.  The switchbacks begin again in earnest.  What’s up?  We are taking breaks more often than either of us anticipated.  We labor on.  It is a beautiful walk through a thickly wooded mountainside.  We reach the top, Signal Peak.  The sun is warm and we take a few to enjoy this quiet space.  Then I see the sign, elevation 8930 ft.  We climbed 1630 feet in 2 ½ miles to an altitude we flat land/lowlanders haven’t trekked through in a very long time.  It’s a good hike just allow plenty of time.