Started the trail around 8:30 am, 3 hours behind the schedule I had planned out the night before. While attempting to make up on time with a quick haste. I still managed to keep average times due to the stops I frequently did to capture a flurry of photos. By 10:38 am I made it to the saddle, took a quick breakfast and re-geared myself for the snow and ice ahead. By 10:56 I was already making a quick move to the next saddle. Took some great shots from every view, up until I got spooked. Around 11:22 I saw something black and gray running in the deep snow darting across and behind large set of tress and boulders. My guess was a bob cat, but I never actually saw it so maybe I just imagined it?? Anyhow, after what  seemed to be an eternity of being alone I caught up with a very great group of people. We were all different, in walks, ages and experience, but at the core of it all we just wanted to hike no matter what. So we all clicked. Then decided we push forward, breaking snow and finding trail until we reach the summit, together. So starts my first hike family experience, time 11:45. After pushing through the second saddle we pushed ourselves onward and upward. Though tough and challenging it was a beautiful day and could not have any better weather. A cool 45* F, trail conditions were almost impossible to identify without the help of AllTrails. We eventually reached the summit at 13:50. We took a moment to relax and take photos and talk among ourselves our stories and our reasons for coming. The wild brought us together and made us the same. No matter how different you may say we are. After getting something to fill our belly’s and a moment to warm up our  body and soul. Time is 15:03 and we are now making our way back down in a haste to beat the night, for a few of us left our headlamps in our vehicles. With only two of us, Steve, and Justin with lights the rest of us; Pamela, Melinda, Carlos and myself. At 17:14 we had just made it to the saddle. With just 20 mins of daylight left we eventually came to a slow walk back down the last 2.4 miles. We made great of the night sky and took some night shots. Got back to the vehicles at 19:38. Afterwards we all went to in n out for burgers and fries. What a great day!! Enjoy the suffering and pain, it makes the small wins more meaningful.