2nd time we've done this hike. Love the trail - it was a LOT less muddy this year. Our first BEAR encounter about 1 mile up the trail. The rangers said it was an 800 lb black bear. Ummmm... that was a HUGE bear. They don't make them that big anywhere else. He was running down the switchbacks while we were on the way up. We surprised eachother about 30' apart. Definitely got the heart pounding! This is one of the best running trails we've been on. Too bad it's so short.