Having never done this hike, and the base being in the desert, I was surprised how forest this hike is. I felt right at home. This hike felt like a nice break hike since we rode the tram up to start which made this an experience of sights and singing on the way down. It was shaded for the most part for the first half on the way up and the last bit on the way down which was fantastic. The rock scramble up to the top was not as bad as I thought it was going to be, more fun thank anything. At the top you could clearly see baldy, San G, and Saddleback. It was a great 360 view of the desert wrapping around to the ocean. On the way down, towards the end of the hike, all of the baby toads were out and hopping around near the creek0 they were tiny and adorable. Definitely a good mellow hike.