I agree while 3000ft vert seems like alot, I think it's a very continuous gradual climb over about 4.5 to 5miles which makes it fairly manageable.paul wrote:I think the problem for me is that the first two steps are quite steep and overgrown. This year I hiked up to Boulder Pass from the west. I figured it would be hard but it turned out not bad at all. I think the reason is a consistency of the slope. You are going up most of the time but it's not too steep. Or maybe I was just in better shape this yearHeff936 wrote: As for the east side of Stoney Indian Pass, that is my favorite pass to climb and one I have always found very doable because the climb is broken into three steps with flat sections between.
Heff
While not a pass, I'm curious to hear from those who've hiked to the Mt. Brown lookout (I haven't as of yet). I've been told that hike is arguably the steepest maintained trail in the park. At least in terms of extended lengths of trail.