This weekend we did a guided ice hike with Valley to Summit and had an amazing day. I wanted to do this last year, but with the plague hanging around and no vaccine available yet, we waited. Today was the perfect day. Weather was great. A little cold (12 degrees in Benton), but who’s thinking about being cold when you’re hiking to 22 beautiful waterfalls. The guides from Valley to Summit were great. They took good care of us. They provide all the equipment (crampons, ice axe, ropes, harness and helmet). The Falls trail is closed to the general public so unless you have the proper equipment, you’re not supposed to be on this trail because it can be dangerous if you don’t know what your’e doing. This was my first time wearing crampons. We’ve done steep climbs in snowshoes and microspikes out in California, but I was excited to see what it was like using crampons and walking on ice. Honestly, I felt safer on this trail in winter then I did in the spring when we were there. The hike itself is not hard depending on your level of fitness, but you do have to watch your step in the spring and summer because the rocks can get slippery. The crampons were great. Felt super safe in them and the glen looked incredible. I loved how the falls reflected an icy blue color. It was a wonderful experience.

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