Started hiking at 6 am through a burned out meadow area with gorgeous wildflowers as far as the eye could see!  Saw a large, healthy looking coyote drinking from a stream that crossed the trail.  There were bugs everywhere yet they minded their own business and left us alone.  At the fork we went right towards Dollar Lake and hiked that trail up and back.  It was a beautiful, despite all the burned trees.  Mother Nature at her finest!  This approach to the summit seemed easier to me than the Vivian Creek approach, mostly because you reach 10,000′ several miles from the summit giving your body time to adapt to the elevation before making that final push.  Highly recommend!  Made it back to the car at 5 pm and spent nearly an hour at the peak.  Total ascent 5740′.