That’s one reason I like to stay at Sprague Creek. It’s only about a mile west of the lodge. You ca ride straight there, grab a site and walk back to the lodge/store if time is tight.

We got caught in west slope construction in 2009. A nice member of the crew gave us the granola bar from her lunch pail as we waited to descend as we had under budgeted on food for the climb up.

Definitely bring enough to eat.

But as J echoed above, a huge advantage of Rising Sun is that you are set up for an early morning climb to the pass. The earlier, the better. If you’re not an early riser, that is the day you want to suck it up and get on the road Sunrise in St. Mary this time of year is around 5:50 am. Up and at ‘em!