We only tend to do this hike once a year or so since, despite the scenery, we always remember it as taking a long time to do. If this hike is 50% more mileage (one way) than old mailbox, then we should be able to get there in 3 hours. So we packed light (if you don’t count the 4 liters of water) and pushed pace as much as possible.
We snagged the last car space at the trailhead parking lot at 7:35am. Made it up to the lookout in 2hours, 6mins.
Bear grass was not out, but other blooms were around and while there weren’t many breezes, bugs were not bad until we stopped for a snack at the top. Mountain was out and so were the peaks to the north. Made it back down in ~2hours.