Yeah, the trail was beautiful this time of year. We started early around 6 AM to beat the heat and honestly it was the best decision. The sunrise at the overlook was stunning with all the fog rolling through the valley. We packed way too much food as usual but better safe than sorry. The switchbacks near the summit were brutal but the view made it all worth it. We saw a family of deer about halfway up which was unexpected. Next time we'll bring binoculars for sure. The whole loop took about six hours with plenty of stops for photos. I'd recommend going mid-week if you can swing it because the parking lot was almost full by the time we got back down. Let me know if you want the GPS track I saved.

Also, there's a great little diner about ten minutes from the trailhead that has the best pancakes I've had in years. We stopped there after and it was the perfect end to the day. I'm already planning to go back next month with my cousin who loves hiking. The forecast looks clear so far so fingers crossed. Let me know if you end up going.

I finally watched that documentary you recommended and wow, it was incredible. I didn't expect to get so emotional about it honestly. The cinematography alone was worth the watch but the storytelling really pulled me in. I had no idea about most of the historical context they covered and I've been reading up on it ever since. My favorite part was the interview segments with the local residents because they brought such a personal perspective to the bigger picture.

I've already told three other people they need to see it. The runtime felt perfect too at just under two hours because it never dragged. I'll have to borrow your copy of the companion book when you're done with it because I want to go deeper into the subject. Thanks again for the suggestion because I probably would have skipped it otherwise. Also, the director's previous work is streaming now and I heard it's just as good. Want to watch it together sometime? Let me know what you think.