Since the shuttle service runs once a day, Gazelle made some smart plans to make use of what otherwise would be a dead afternoon due to when our flight gets in.
This post explains and sets our plans out.
It starts with being aware that where you can reach the trailhead is at about mile 1.8. That point is circled on the map.
So we fly in. Pick up and rent a truck using points.
Drive to the trailhead at mile 1.8.
From there we hike to the terminus. Then we hike back to the trail head/parking lot. That is a loop of 3.6 miles.
Unfortunately you can’t start at the terminus, the closest you can get is 1.8 miles away. Most people do that at the start of their first day on trail. We will do that on Day 0 which will get us 3.6 miles ahead on what is a rough day with a lot of ascent.
After all, from the terminus at below 6,000 feet to the peak is over 2,700 feet of ascent over 6.4 miles. We will do part of it in the afternoon.
After we get that done we drive back, return the truck and go to our hotel to rest.
Day one we catch the early morning shuttle and start climbing from mile 1.8.
That way on Day 1 we hike from 1.8 to the peak at 6.4 instead of from mile 0. That is 4.6 miles instead of 8.2 to get to the peak that it would take without the day 0 plan. Then we continue downhill to bathtub springs at mile 8 and downhill to camping at 11.3 where there is also water.
That location even has one bar Internet/Verizon which I expect we won’t use. But it is nice to think about.
So we have a plan that makes use of dead time and also makes for an easier day one.
I think it was a great idea Happy6/Gazelle had.
Will see how it goes.