I’m closing in on finishing my challenge.  This will be Peak #5 and I am crazy excited. I was trying to pace myself through this challenge and wanted to finish much sooner than year end but the summer heat and fire storms put a lot of kinks in plans and schedules.  First, I was watching for the trails to open again after the fires, then I was watching for snow because I will not hike in snow.  Finally got a date on the calendar that looked like we were going to have good hiking conditions.  It’s going to be another long ass hike but I’m not going to think about the pain – only the reward.  Another 4:30am wake up call to drive another 2 hours for a hike.  This is why I am crazy – LOL!  We got to the parking lot around 8:45am.  The lot was pretty full but there was still available parking. I think we were supposed to complete a pass/permit but there wasn’t anyone around to ask so off we went.  The trail is very pretty.  I would have enjoyed nosing around the old cabin foundations for some photos but this was a 13.3 mile hike and at my pace, I’m looking at a long ass hike into the darkness…again!  The trail is very well marked.  There wasn’t a spot of snow to be seen.  I was prepared for cold and wind but we lucked out with great weather.  It was very cold starting out but there was not wind.  Later as we warmed up, we stopped several times to adjust layers for the temps.  If you were shadowed from the sun, it was cold and add a bit of a wind and it’s freezing!  Walk into the sun and it’s warm without wind but with a bit of wind, still need the layers.  I figure I lost about 30-45minutes adjusting layers.  The trail was well marked to the saddle.  It was also well marked from the saddle to the peak but this section was a bit more technical due to the fact that you are hiking around the mountain, crossing a small canyon to get to the actual mountain for the peak.  You are walking on a very skinny trail, not more than a foot wide here and there, with rocks and precarious spots for balance on one side and a drop off straight down the mountain on your other side.  I can see where this would be a very dangerous trail with snow and black ice hazards.  We got to the summit around 1:15pm.  It was calm and peaceful.  We enjoyed a nice respite before heading back down.  The trail is rocky in spots and can be challenging to negotiate bioth ways.  It’s not so bad with day light but again, my pace kept me back into the darkness.  I keopt trying to push and catch up with the daylight as it was receding from the canyon but no such luck.  I finished the last mile in darkness using headlamps.