We were hesitant to start the climb mid day with a forecast in the 90's for Bend, but an earlier start wasn't an option. The heat really wasn't an issue with protective clothing and lots of water. The first part of the hike is rather nice and would have been even better if we hadn't missed the trail the first time we intersected with the maintenance road. As a result, we walked on the road further going up than coming down. Above the Sunrise lift the hike becomes more challenging through the lava rocks, especially for someone with short legs. The views are well worth the sore knees. We had a nice break at the top for a snack and photos. There was a wind blowing and you could see the smoke plume from the forest fire near Waldo Lake. Our hiking time was 3.5 hours and total time on the mountain was 4.5 hours.