We began our hike around 730am, anticipating it to take ~5 hours, giving us a midday finish. However, this hike was very busy. We took many stops to let floods of people pass whether headed up or down the trail. As you may have guessed, we didn't meet our goal, making this a 7 hour hike. Almost all of the trail is very exposed, and this hike is adequately named difficult / challenging, despite the number of people attempting it at midday or afternoon. My advice is to avoid the weekends, start early, and budget 5-6 hours for this hike. It is well worth the view at the top, and Flatiron is stunning to stare at as you hike into the Superstition Mountains. We encountered several groups of backpackers. The Superstitions are certainly a magical place for adventuring. Don't forget your hat, sunscreen, and LOTS of water. Additionally, keep your eye out for the trail markers. Water flows through this area during periods of heavy rain, and naturally, the trail shifts..