Some hikes you do for the summit. Some you do for the story. This past Saturday, we did one for both, and then we chased it with the biggest pretzels any of us had ever seen.
The plan was simple and a little bit genius: earn the party. Instead of just driving up to Snowbird for Oktoberfest like everyone else, we decided to hike our way into it. Little Cottonwood Canyon in early fall is doing the absolute most right now, all crisp air and that first hint of gold in the trees, and we were not about to waste it sitting in a parking lot.
We laced up at Snowbird and pointed ourselves uphill toward Alta. There is something so satisfying about traveling between these two on your own two feet instead of in a car. You feel the terrain instead of just looking at it.
From Alta we made our way up to Cecret Lake, which never fails to deliver. If you have never seen it, picture a still alpine lake tucked into a bowl of granite with peaks standing guard all around. We took our moment there. Water breaks, lunch, photos, the kind of group chatter that only happens when everyone is a little breathless and a lot happy.
From the lake we kept climbing toward Sugarloaf Pass, and this is where the group really locked in. The higher you go, the bigger the reward, and the views up there opened all the way out across the Wasatch. Nothing quite bonds a group of women like grinding up a pass together, cheering each other through the last steep pitch, and then turning around to take in what you just earned.
Then it was back over to Hidden Peak, sitting pretty at the top of the canyon, where we hopped the lift for the ride down. Descending with the whole valley laid out in front of you is a pretty spectacular way to end the climbing portion of the day. Legs done. Spirits high. Pretzels calling.
The lift dropped us right into the heart of Oktoberfest, which felt like teleporting from a mountaintop into a party. We wasted no time. We promptly scarfed down pretzels roughly the size of our own heads, found ourselves some beer, and then did what any good crew does after a big day out. We danced.
There is a specific kind of joy in celebrating right after you have worked for it. Your legs are tired, your cheeks hurt from smiling, and everything tastes better because you climbed for it. That was the whole vibe of the day, and it was perfect.
This is what GOAT is all about. Not just the miles, and not just the party, but the people you get to share both with. Days like this are the reason we keep showing up: strong women, a beautiful trail, a proper celebration, and a whole lot of laughing in between.
To everyone who came out, thank you for the effort, the energy, and the dance moves. Prost to you all.
Want in on the next one? Keep an eye on our upcoming events. Space fills fast, and trust us, you want to be there.
