The drive to the TH was 1:40 including stopping at the Jacksonville Library and waiting for a ditch dragging operation on Highway 238. NF 1005 is still in bad shape with major potholes and now the vegetation is reaching out from the sides of the road to brush the sides of vehicles.
We went up via Windy Gap and bushwhacked up to the summit. Even though we knew that there were several false summits we managed to visit several for extra credit. We had a doctor heal thyself experience when Gary cut his hand on one of the false summit rocks and proceeded to tape it back together. Great views from the top from Mt. Thielsen to Shasta to perhaps the ocean.
After an Annie lunch we decided to head down via the meadow making it a loop hike. The meadow is still punctuated with lots of marmot holes but the grass was only knee high today and mostly dead so we were able to see most of the holes and largely avoided them.
We tried stopping for refreshment at the Applegate Store but found that they stop serving at 2 PM. So we continued on to the Frau Kemmling Schoolhaus Brewhaus where we enjoyed drinks and fries on the front patio.