It was a bit cold to start but with proper layering the weather was pretty ideal. No bugs which was great.

I think I saw 2 people the entire hike until the last part near the bottom.

Overall its a pretty tough hike but I am not in the best shape and I haven't hiked 12 miles in many, many years. The climb from Sturtevant Camp to Halfway Rest sign is pretty steep. Mapmyhike shows majority is in 25-35% grade. After that it becomes more of a switchback and reasonable.

The hike is a bit boring in the sense that you are climbing but you get very little views of the mountains/valleys but you are embedded in a pretty forest and the trail is in great condition.

Climb down was tough and the trek back gets confusing around the Hoegee Camp (I opted to follow route to Mt. Zion junction and head down instead of taking Upper Winter Creek).

My trip was fueled by a sandwich in a Thomas the Train container.