This was one of the toughest hikes I have done so far. We started a little late from our planned start, and it was pretty sunny, so it definitely acted against us for the last mile to the summit. Going uphill felt challenging between miles 2-3 and 6-7, with a few 30-40% grades. But downhill was equally challenging for the knees, due to the steep slopes. Saw a few hiking groups and marathon runners on the way, but other than that it was not crowded. It was a bliss to have a few miles of shaded terrain. Took 8 hours in total, with 6.5 hours of moving time and overall it was a great experience! Would definitely recommend carrying at-least 3L water per person + energy bars.