Yeah, I think Saturday afternoon works well for everyone. I checked with the group and they said 3pm would be fine. We were thinking of using the community center since the park might still be damp from all the rain we had. I can bring the main dish and maybe a couple of sides. Let me know if you want me to pick up anything else while I'm out. The reservation is already set for that time and I confirmed the capacity works for our group size. I think we should have enough seating but if you have extra folding chairs that would be great. We should also plan for some activities since there will be quite a few children coming. Maybe some simple games or a craft station would keep them busy while the adults catch up. Also, the downtown street fair might be happening that same weekend so we might see some extra foot traffic in the area. Nothing too heavy though. Let me know if this plan works for you or if you want to adjust anything. I'm flexible on the details.

I looked into the trail conditions and the loop is open again after the maintenance work they did last month. The forecast looks decent for next weekend so that should work out well. I was thinking we could start around 7am to avoid the midday heat. The full loop takes about four hours at a steady pace with a few short breaks. We should bring plenty of water and some easy snacks. I know a good spot about halfway where we can stop and rest. The views from the ridge are supposed to be really clear this time of year. Let me know if you want to bring your dog along because some parts of the trail allow dogs on a leash. I can also check if there are any organized groups using the trail that day. It's usually not too crowded early in the morning so that works in our favor. I'll bring my camera to get some shots from the overlook. I also reserved a spot at the trailhead parking lot just in case it fills up. We can adjust the departure time if needed but I think an early start is the best approach for this route.