I think the best approach for the weekend would be to head out early on Saturday morning rather than trying to drive up Friday night. Traffic around the bridge has been terrible after 4pm lately and we would just end up sitting in it for an extra hour or more. If we leave by 7am we will be there before the crowds hit the trailhead and we can take our time on the loop. I checked the weather and it looks like it should stay clear through Sunday afternoon so we should have plenty of time for the full hike without rushing. Let me know if you want to grab coffee on the way or if you would rather just meet at the parking area. I will bring the trail maps and snacks for the group. A few of us were also thinking about stopping at that farm stand on the way back if it is still open. We can decide once we see how everyone is feeling after the hike. I am really looking forward to getting out of the city for a bit.

I finally tried making that mushroom risotto you mentioned and it came out way better than I expected honestly. The trick was to toast the rice in butter first before adding any liquid and to keep the broth warm throughout the whole process so it absorbed evenly. I used a mix of cremini and shiitake mushrooms and added a splash of white wine right at the end before the final stir. The texture turned out creamy without being heavy which is exactly what I was hoping for. Next time I might try adding some fresh thyme and maybe a little parmesan on top for extra depth. Let me know if you have any other recipe suggestions worth trying. I have been cooking more at home lately and really enjoying it. The farmer's market near my place has been getting good produce and I picked up some nice herbs this past weekend.