We have connections which shall remain unknown and can get the key to the gate pictured below. This cuts off at least 1/2 hour of walking on a hot paved road.
We waited at the gate until 7:30, but no others showed, so we drove up without them. We figured today we were racing the clouds to the summit and could not wait any longer. We parked the cars at the second well, mounted our packs and at 7:44 we began walking. My GPS recorded a height of 1460 feet, that means we had a hike of 2565 feet, as the summit is 4025 feet above sea level.
