I'd been up both ends of this trail before but never very far on the Ptarmigan side, so wanted to check out the traverse. We hiked up the back side of Baldy, found our way through high winds and a dash of snow along the ridge toward Ptarmigan Valley, and then down into the valley. It wasn't apparent exactly where the trail was, but we new we were heading in the right direction. Once we got over the lip and looked back the way we'd come, we could see the trail on the tundra.
This late in the fall, most of the leaves were gone, so we could see quite a ways, which was especially nice when we got to the long, straight, grassy (and a little boring) section of old road where thick alders have grown alongside.
Once you get back down into the mixed forest, though, it's really pretty again as the trail twists and turns through places you'd want to build a little cabin. If you could.
Distance one way: about 9 miles
This late in the fall, most of the leaves were gone, so we could see quite a ways, which was especially nice when we got to the long, straight, grassy (and a little boring) section of old road where thick alders have grown alongside.
Once you get back down into the mixed forest, though, it's really pretty again as the trail twists and turns through places you'd want to build a little cabin. If you could.
Distance one way: about 9 miles