What a day. I got a 2 hour late start due to work. My two friends got started on time at 0630. I started at 0830. I saw how the trail started off with just a little elevation gain and figured I could push hard and might catch them. For the first 3 miles I was able to hike 20 min miles and gain a lot of ground. Once you get 3 miles in the tail starts to climb. By Mile 5 at the saddle I had toasted myself. It became a mental game. My mind wanted me to turn around. I was hiking alone. Other people on the trail, but I wasn't with my friends. My body hurt from not getting much sleep the night before. I'm a firefighter and it was a rough night. I didn't get a good breakfast and was rushing to get on the trail.

My legs hurt, I was cramping, and my mind wasn't in it. I have been in the place before. My job has brought me to this point a few times. But from that work I know my body is capable of much more. I stopped at the saddle, took a break, ate some snacks, drank some water and electrolytes, and reset my focus. I wasn't going to let my mind take over.

I got up and pushed on. There isn't much cell service up there but I did get a text from my friends asking where and how I was. I texted back letting them know I was good and moving. The views from the saddle down into he valley above the clouds was amazing. I made it to the top found my friends, took a few photos, singed the log, and headed back home. We finished together just as the sun set, and finished off with a burger at a local joint.

The trail was beautiful. You can see the burn scar from fires but the forest is growing and filling in. As you hike the start is up through a gully and then flattens out. As stated before around mile 3 it gets steep. That grade stays steady all the way to the top. You don't get many breaks after the saddle. As you hike up around a knob you think you see the top peak. But you will find there are many false peaks. You will have a good 1.5-2 miles before you get to the peak. I would do this hike again. But 20 miles in a day is tough. I would want to do it again and spend the night up there and see a few other places. Explore a bit more and not just pound out a trail.