I chose the perfect day for this effort. It had rained the day before and the first was damp, cool, and fresh.
I went into this run already having almost 10k' of vert on my legs, so I knew I was going to feel fatigued. What I wasn't prepared for was the amount of trees down on the trail. I know Ben had encountered a lot of fallen trees but I didn't realize it was going to be so bad. There was a good 6-7 mile section that was constant starting and stopping, crawling over, under, and through trees and brush. It slowed me down considerably and left me a little banged up.
Otherwise, the day was phenomenal. Beautiful views and wildflowers, and a lot of solitude in the first 15 miles or so. The swimming holes in the river are very inviting and there's great opportunities for camping along the trail.
I'd love to come back (on fresh legs) and do this as an out and back.
If you're considering doing this route, keep in mind that there is a TON of poison oak. So plan for that if you're sensitive.