Hot and cold Mount St. Helena

Ok, ok, so the original trail is little over 11 miles. But!….my map shows and alternate trail that cut out all the switchbacks at the beginning of the trail, thus cutting out 2 miles, so only 9.5 miles round trip. But!…..the short way involves scrambling up over rocks and boulders, you know the places where the rock climbers actually go. Man oh man what a climb! Really huffing and puffing in the first mile alone, thighs on fire!