If not for the chill above 13,000' and the wind piling onto it along the ridge, I'd have thought I was hiking on a bluebird August day. The ski jacket was overkill below 13k, though it did come in handy on the summit - if you're planning to spend some time up there (which I highly recommend...super cool views of volcanic activity past as well as neighboring peaks and what I believe is the defunct Cuchara Mountain Resort!), bring an extra layer that packs away easily.
I saw exactly one other person the whole day and managed to time my departure from Denver so that I mostly avoided the mess between Castle Rock and Monument (required leaving before 6, which isn't a bad idea anyway, given how far away WSP is).
Not a challenging hike, but a good workout for the lungs and leg muscles just the same, and great for those who like peace and quiet with some obvious geology on display. :)
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