Standing Eight
Tried to make this trail but my directions took my off of a place called Moran Road, however when I was traveling on Upper Moran I ran in to a closed off lumber road. When I inquired about it in the town of Arnold, they said they never heard of the trail and the road was known for being closed due to the rough winter.
1.0
Intermediate Plus. In my opinion, a better description of this fun hike. Roughly 5 miles round trip (3 1/2 hours). Pregnant girlfriends like it going up, hate it just before the summit and love it all the way down. A very vertical hike that originates at the base of a neighborhood street. Although the trail is maintained by groups (obvious by the installed stairs, the lack of trash and attempts to keep encroaching growth at bay) it is best summed up as: lots of buried rocks, exposed tree roots and switchbacks. Each elevation change brings a different layer to the hike. Starting with a rocky trail covered by low shrubbery. Next level would be higher trees with massive tree roots covering the trail floor. Next level puts you strangely in the middle of a pine forest with a soft carpet like covering of needles everywhere. At one point a weird, small, desert-like section that I can only describe as similar to Moab, Utah. Finally the last quarter of the trip consists of in-earth dirt stairs through a rain forest backdrop that rewards you with a very worth while view of the southern side of the island at the top. It rained on us sporadically (February) so a light rain coat or something weatherproof is suggested (Your pictures at the top will look sweaty). We made it in tennis shoes but wished we had something better. Wildlife was pretty scarce but we did see a rat. So that happened. Take water. Take water. Take water...and maybe a little something to munch on at the top. Nice view at the top to watch the world roll by for an hour.
4.0
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