Roller coaster to the top

I got to the parking lot and hit the trail at 8am. It started out with a nice incline and a pretty level hike gradually growing steeper with the ascent up through the halfway point feeling quite long. Getting up and over the hill only to drop down steeply and head back up again was a bit tough knowing I would be doing the same on the way out. I made it up to the peak taking in the views on a beautiful clear day. After a short rest I headed back down. The return trip made my legs burn, but it was a great feeling to complete this peak for the first time. Five down, one more to go.