We arrived at the parking lot at 6:30 a.m. on a Friday, it wasn't too bad, maybe 1/3 full. Bathrooms were in horrible shape with lots of litter inside, including someone's McDonalds trash! C'mon people!!!

We filled out our self-issued permit and headed out. It's a gradual climb in the beginning and then really steps it up once you're past the saddle. The scenery is just gorgeous the entire way. Just past the saddle the trail can get pretty sketchy, so ALWAYS watch your step! It's not a race to the summit, so take your time and stay safe! We saw a reasonable amount of hikers (not crowded) and everyone was very friendly. There were probably less than 10 people at the summit including our small group of 3, so it was really nice!

I highly recommend this hike for the scenery, but plan on quite a bit of work if you're an average hiker like me. We saw a few trail runners, but I'm thinking that's not the norm.

Gorgeous scenery!!!