I have a busy weekend of pesky house chores so was able to only get out for one day in spite of it being a 3-day weekend for me. My friend Mark was game to go on a day hike with JodeeDog and me. We were trying to choose between Mt. Pugh, which is a committing scramble and would've required an early start. Mount Dickerman is a good workout and I would be able to take the dog.
Mount Dickerman is a popular hike on weekends. There's a pretty good trail all the way to the top. Despite the trail, a few people manage to wander off it and fall down the rocky run out. Truly it's hard to imagine how they might miss the trail even in the dark but then the trail is rocky and the rocks are obviously rocky. I carry a headlamp with me but rarely have to use it unless I'm camping overnight. Still, sometimes you never know when you underestimate the time required to get in and out.
The trailhead is off the Mountain Loop Highway past Verlot and less than 2 hours from home for either one of us. We met at a park n ride close to the freeway at 9:30 and were at the trailhead at around 10:30. We had frost at sea level. The trailhead sits at just below 2000' in the trees. The temperature was predictably brisk so we started up the trail at a brisk pace. The trail traverses at a gentle incline for a little while then switchbacks about a million times in the trees. On one switchback a bee smacked into my pinky finger and stung me. Made me forget about the relentless uphill climb for a little while. One ambitious, and very sweaty, hiker passed us but for the most part we passed six or seven parties on our way up.
Toward the top we cleared the trees and got into the blueberries, which were past prime, but the foliage was beautiful. I took a picture of these amazing ice crystals that were growing out of the trail. Other than that, I saved all the photographs for the summit (5723'), where there is a 360 degree view of summits. A sea of rocky peaks and glaciers. Here are the pictures.