the sandy slopes of upper sb, connected with my ascent route, down through the steep rocky part (required caution, but never felt really dangerous), then down the steep pebble-and-sand slope to the gentle grassy slopes that i explored back to the trail (ended up right at the spring).
i started my day late, passing through the windy ridge gate exactly at the moment the sun broke over the horizon, so it was funny that i arrived back there as the sun was about to dip out of sight. just for fun, i waited for it to drop, then raced up the 450 steps to the spirit lake viewpoint so i could 