INCH Hike: Browns Sugarloaf

1317. Browns Sugarloaf (11/19/23)

Hikers (0):
Distance: 17 miles
Rating: 4 difficulty, 9 beauty
Park info: Robert Louis Stevenson State Park

Steve owes a writeup! -- Pictures by Qi, Jim, Shuli and Steve

What a great hike! 100% of people finished after sunset.

We had some disconnect at the start that resulted in me going back to find Manfred/Gela/Jeff early on which was a good 30 minute delay. Our routes up and down Sugarloaf were of different efficiencies. At the Sugarloaf summit Mihail predicted most would turn back, but they didn't! That's why this group is awesome. But it took longer than expected.

If we'd all stuck together, I think we would have finished before nightfall, but it would require everyone to follow the most efficient routes which, at least from the second summit (Brown), was unclear. Two of us got to the summit quickly--even before people who'd left 20 minutes earlier.

Similarly, Mihail and I were pretty fast down to the Palisades route. He eventually passed me along the trail and soon I couldn't seen him ahead. I would later be so tired near the last summit that I had to lay down along the trail. I'll blame that on donating a quart of blood on Thursday and also running out of food because I didn't repack my backback from the prior day. But I was still (!) the second person back, despite a long break. It's definitely not a flat route back, nor is it easier after the sun sets (which is the only reason everyone didn't trample my supine body, I'm guessing!).