(Daily Mi: 3.9) Cars were idling in the parking lot as Crusader and I made for the Hunt Trail a little after five a.m. The long-distance hiker site was already abandoned (we all left our gear at the ranger station -- where I also scored a daypack for the climb), and in fact the other three hikers (Chile, Bucky and Trish the Dish) had all signed the register at the trailhead at 5 am about 20 minutes up on us.

Crusader ran at the hill right off. We pretty quickly caught Bucky (who has been hiking 300 odd miles w/a broken toe) and then Trish, and then finally Chile who then hiked w/us to the top.

It was a great climb. Ropes and iron foot/handholds. We put up our hiking poles after the first 2 miles, and then took them out again to cross the Tablelands and the last half mile to the summit.

We were above treeline for about half the hike and there were just endless vistas of lakes and the distant mountains we had crossed to get there. The sky was overcast all day, but the air was dry and the views were extremely clear.

Chile (who was completing a 2168 mile thru-hike, GA-ME) took the lead to the summit which we reached at 8:10 (2 hrs 50 min). It was cold up top. I was wearing gloves but not a shell. But, for the time being, we were alone. We tagged the sign. We took the money shots. High-fived. Ate candy, and bitched about the 5 un-credited miles we were about descend.