The Wave permit day: wind kept things comfortable
Feb 5-7, 20265 people1 min read
A
Andrew Diaz
1 reports
4.0
Difficulty
5
Scenery
5
Trail Conditions
5
Logistics for The Wave
We started around 4:45 AM and the early start made the whole day easier.
Route we took: Classic out-and-back from Wire Pass before heat builds.
Permit check: had it pulled up before we hit the busy spots.
Conditions were straightforward: Cold start turned into warm sun by mid-morning. Route markers lined up well, still worth checking maps often. No refill options at all, which drove our turnaround time.
I would do this again without changing much.
If you want less stress: Poles help more than people admit on slick or steep exits.
Scorecard (out of 5): overall 4, difficulty 5, scenery 5, conditions 5.
Conditions at Time of Trip
Feb 2026Weather
Cold start turned into warm sun by mid-morning.
Trail
Route markers lined up well, still worth checking maps often.
Water
No refill options at all, which drove our turnaround time.
Crowds
Packed
💡Tips from the Trip
💡
General
- •Poles help more than people admit on slick or steep exits.
- •Have a turnaround time before you get committed to the hardest section.
- •Start earlier than you think if you want space on the first mile.
- •If the trail is muddy, slow down instead of fighting it.
- •Bring one extra liter if you are unsure about water.
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