I started this hike all wrong. I forgot to eat dinner last night, my phone said I only slept for 3 hours and gave me a sad face, then I didn't eat breakfast. I guess I was too excited to get to the trail early and didn't want to oversleep. Biggest mistake- I forgot my ice cream to eat at the peak! It was mint chocolate chip. Then the alltrails app acted up (probably user error-me) the whole hike up. If you saw my all trails app activity, it looks like I got an Uber helicopter ride and only could afford passing over a few switchbacks – I dont hike that straight.  Plus, one mile up, I blew a tire – big blister on my heal- patched it up and moved on.

I left the house at 4am. The drive to the trailhead was nice. Full moon was setting and I could see the city lights below and no traffic. Parking lot had a handful of cars. I started the hike at 530am. I had to use my headlamp for the bathroom. I love the early morning hikes!!!! I rested more times than there are switchbacks.  All the people who parked 2-3 hours after me caught up and passed me by on the way to the peak. I still made it up and back before noon. There was about 100+ people out there (day hikers and PCTers mixed). Im exaggerating, but whose counting?

This hike is like a reality 80s Donkey Kong forest edition game and includes obstacles of felled trees and a more difficult level at the top of snow. Each turn of a switchback feels like groundhog day.