Last year I wouldn't have considered Red 2 a destination. In fact, it was kind of disappointing to get there at 8pm when we obedient TNAB non-leaders (um... the for real non-leaders) turn around. Given the great weather and the fact that we had TNAB already almost on the Tusk O' Granite summit were the excuses needed to break the 8pm rule and continue on.

This year, after a decently strenuous trip through rain and sloppy snow we arrived at Red 2 at about the same time. Some wanted to continue. I didn't feel the need.

I'm not sure if it was the lousy conditions (snow and rain, a light wind, slushy snow, zero views) or the fact we were already on a high point with a name or the 200 feet of loss and another 600 feet of gain ahead, but it just wasn't there for me. I'm going to go with a newfound maturity and outlook on hiking that says I don't need to prove myself to anybody and as long as I'm out having fun that's what matters.

So we took pictures, a very few pictures, pushed dogs off the cornice (not Treen), watched dogs jump off the cornice (oh, Treen), and then headed for home. We arrived at the cars (a bit short of the actual trailhead due to the abundance of late-season snow) right at 10pm so there was still time for the Pour House, though that resulted in a whopping four hours of sleep.

Total fun miles this trip were about six and roughly 3,000 feet of gain.