by AlanK » Wed May 24, 2006 5:09 pm
I think you hit it correctly -- the last mile or two before the tram is the hardest part of the hike. The early miles are steep too, but at leats you're fresh.
The hike from the tram to the summit and back is quite easy by comparison. If I go up just from the tram, it always feels like a good, honest hike, but it seems easy after hoofing it up form the valley floor.
I go up from Ramon Dr., not the museum. I can't remember the time to the painted rocks, but I think it's around half an hour.
We left at 4:42 AM last Saturday and there was certainly no need for headlamps.