Matt and I went hiking up and around Jones Pass the other day. Holy SHIT, was that pretty!

The hike started at Jones Pass Trailhead, and started climbing immediately, pretty much straight up the side of a mountain.

About two miles in, we came around a corner and were mostly above tree line. It was gorgeous alpine tundra as far as the eye could see. We could see what looked like a trail all the way around on the other side of the valley and thought, “Damn, that looks FAR.” Well, nothing to do but keep walking.

The views just got more and more spectacular. We ended up behind some of the ridges we didn’t even realize were there, and behind each one was another incredible panorama of another mountain range. I swear, we live in the most beautiful place on earth.

Eventually, the CDT wound back around to the road we were looking for, and it was quite the anti-climactic walk back to the car. The views from the side of the road weren’t awful, either…

All in all, we spent about five miles and two and a half hours above tree line, in what could easily be the most spectacular alpine tundra I’ve ever seen. Tough hike? Yes. Worth it? ABSOLUTELY!