It was a perfect day with a slight breeze and temps in the low 70s. A thick fog bank sat over the basin. Back in the olden days when we walked to and from school in the snow with no shoes and it was up hill both ways, I could hike the Strawberry Peak trail and maybe run into a handful of folks the entire day. But Strawberry has been hyped on social media so the trail now is like the LA freeways. As I went, I counted the folks I encountered. By the time I reached the firebreak for Lawlor, I'd run into 28 hikers.
Being the misanthrope that I am, I decided to get out of the annoying conga line and head up the firebreak instead of going the traditional route. I figured few if any would make that same decision and I was right. No one followed and I had the firebreak to myself - for whatever that's worth.
As you y'all know, the firebreak is a short but challenging route. Very steep and loose and exposed. The guy operating the dozer that cut this break must have balls of titanium. Thre break affords really nice looks into the West Fork and over toward Wilson which distracts from the climb. I picked through the loose screw, cables, old railroad ties, etc. that had been dredged up when they cut the break and in no time popped up onto Lawlor's summit. There was a small rock pile there, but no register and it really wasn't very inviting. Thus, the absence of crowds. So I worked my way down the firebreaks as it tracks toward Barley Flats to a big rock outcropping on the left. Big view from here. I hung out here for a bit just taking it in and enjoying being there.
After sitting a spell, I headed back by the traditional route. The firebreak was ok for ascending, but descending seemed like it could get a bit sketchy. The use trail was easy to follow as it has seen more traffic with the forest's exploding popularity. The Strawberry Peak trail was in great shape. Big props to the folks who originally cut and now maintain it.
Overall a good day in the Gabes.
