Started at Rockpile Trailhead, road is passable and best from Oakridge, paved mostly last few miles are gravel. A little tough but can still be done in a non 4WD. Just had to take it slow.

Ended up off trail a couple times, because the markings (almost all in cairn form)  or paths weren’t always clear. Crushed it until having to backtrack a few times. I’m sure I would have come in at 6.5hrs had I not!

Some trees down across the trail required some maneuvering, but nothing terribly difficult.
I’m no Pro so the last mile and a half, are just plain tough – and id say is as bad or as tough as everyone claims it to be. The scree leading up to the peak is spirit crushing. I only saw 10people on the trail the whole day – 2 turned back while trying to get up through the scree.

Was a great day for it. Cool. Overcast and cleared and warmed at the end. Slight haze due to smoke here and there. But no complaints.

Being not great shape (aka not a Pro), past smoker Diamond was another victory.