Arrived at the parking lot right before 6am and it was still pitch black outside! We got started hiking by 6:15am and it was in the low 50s. I was definitely under-prepared with my clothing. Once we started moving and the blood was pumping, it wasn't as bad (except for the wind chill!)

The trail was pretty quiet and desolate. Only saw a handful of people in the beginning. Once we passed the saddle and made our way to Kelly Camp we were alone. The climb after Kelly Camp is a long steady incline. Did I mention long? The climb to the summit felt like it would never end!

The views on the way and at the summit more than made up for the eternal climb. We were above the clouds. I have to say this peak had the best views of any I've done so far. We spent a good amount of time at the summit snacking and taking pictures.

The hike down was much quicker although tougher on the knees and the feet. We walked through the fog that rolled in and it looked like a completely different trail than when we came up. Once we got to the saddle, the rest of the way felt like it would never end (again). My feet were throbbing! Overall, a great hike I would definitely do again. Trail was very clear and easy to follow. Only 1 more peak to go for the challenge!