Leaving home while it still was dark, I was hoping to catch a sunrise on the trail. So I started from Usery Pass Trailhead at first light and got almost up to the Pass Mountain Trail before the McDowell Mountains caught their morning color. The next two miles were glorious!

Lots of people were on the Pass Mountain Trail, as usual. Everyone was friendly. Several large groups of senior citizens, apparently from retirement community hiking clubs, went hiking, and also some young people. No one looked lost, but one couple wanted me to tell them about the geology of an interesting rock formation.

Usery Pass Trailhead, which was deserted when I arrived, had six more cars when I returned.