Went very well...I left out at 4:45am from the parking lot and within 20 minutes knew I'd probably never do it again. The Ramon Rd start seems so much better given the darkness and warming up. Damn all those stair master cutoff trails. The hike was great both temperature and trail conditions. I did notice the orange spots tended to be put right over the top of old white spots. The new training using a heart rate monitor has paid off. Thanks to both Zippety and Perry for the chats. I cut an additional 1:20 off my best and posted 6:28 to the concrete.
The orange spots did help after the traverses. I tend to lose the trail up there and they made it easy although in some areas it looked like they missed the trail as well. I guess if the orange is unsightly and someone is going to clean it off then it begs the question about all the white markings. Certainly all those words on the rock leaving the picnic tables didn't roll down from San Jacinto that way.
The wife and I met Perry above Mesquite recently. He went by us on the way up just as Stan described him...fast. He looked to be holding a 5 minute mile pace through the steepest section. So far we have met 4 people from this site and its been pretty remarkable. Not a single one of them has fit the picture I've drawn yet I have liked everyone of them immediately.
Thanks again Perry for an exceptional site.