I chose a perfect day to hike. The temperatures were 70°-60° F, from parking lot to summit. The day began with clear skies, but in the afternoon, high clouds moved in.  There was a constant breeze which was a bit more brisk near the summit, but not problematic. Despite the high clouds, visibility was outstanding. I could see snow on the San Francisco Peaks to the west and Sunset Crater to the south. The hike was entirely on the Forest Service road that leads to the Lookout Tower. This gave me a false sense of comfort and made me think the hike would be easy. It was not. Though not especially challenging, the steady incline makes it a great workout. Descending was a breeze; I was moving at a pace of 4 miles per hour. – My first time doing this hike & I would do it again, but probably in trail running shoes. Also, I brought my trekking poles. I didn’t need them and would leave them behind on a future hike here, unless there is inclement weather, such as snow or ice.