It was amazing the temperature difference between The Valley of Palm Springs and the trailhead!  While it was 116• in Palm Springs, it was in the 60-70’s on the hike. The tram ride was an adventure with the heights and they swaying.  The beginning portion of the hike was really pretty with a lot of shade. There was even some running water. As I begin the climb, I felt the side effects of the altitude with slightly labored  breathing.  As we neared the top, the terrain became more exposed and I felt the heat of the sun. We bought cooling towels to bring in this hike and they worked amazingly to keep our necks cool. The summit was beautiful with views of many peaks in the area. We ate lunch down by the refuge hut and then began our decent down the trail. The hike took us much longer than we anticipated for a 11-12 mile hike!