Wow! This is one on the most strenuous hikes I've done in Arizona, besides the Grand Canyon.  From the start, you don't get much flat ground and you start climbing and scrambling very quickly.  It is a very exposed route to the top and I thought 80 degrees would be an ok temperature to make it a go, but it did get very toasty.  I brought 2 1/2 liters of water which was just enough to get me to the top and bottom of the hike.  I honestly don't know who measures these hikes, but I didn't reach the summit until 3 miles and the elevation gain was 3200+ , however, I did do a bit of uphill on the downhill as the white arrows are harder to follow downhill than uphill!  Lots of friendly folks on the trail, everyone checked on each other, checking that you're “ok” and that you have water.   The climb is VERY strenuous and it seems like it's never ending and NOT where you think it will end.  Lots of “false summits” The views are absolutely amazing of the surrounding Sedona area and I was even able to see the Williams peaks and Mt. Humphrys in Flagstaff from the summit.  The hike down was very technical going DOWN those scrambles from the way up.  It is also very rocky and my feet felt very tired of negotiating the rocky surface for most of the miles.  Very little relief from the rocky trail on this mountain.  All in all a long day for me, I should have started earlier but I parked at Fay Canyon at first and thought a trail connected from that parking area, so I wasted an hour turning around and driving up to the Bear Mountain Parking area to start again (11:00am), so, with resting on the way up I took 6 1/2 hours for the entire hike!  The sign says to allow 5 hours.  Glad I moved my car so it was right there on the way back!  Cold water waiting too!  It was a long day, but I enjoyed the views so much and I would only change an earlier start time.  I had a great day on the trail, hike more worry less!