I discovered this route a few weeks ago and ran it at casual pace last weekend. It struck me as a very engaging route in general with many specific variations of the climb, depending on your technical preferences. I knew I wanted to come back for an honest effort.
I started around 2pm from the Bear Lake TH, just after a short rain shower, with perfect Fall conditions: cool temperatures, some humidity, beautiful colors. I reached Black Lake after one hour and made my way up the lower boulder field and grassy slopes. Instead of following the southwards ramp, I decided to climb the slabs straight up towards the summit ramp. This worked out wonderfully and felt like a more exciting variation with low 5ᵀᴴ class scrambling.
After the short, technical climb to the summit ramp, I took a wrong turn and started up the wrong gully. I realized my mistake after several minutes, got back down, and started the final climb. Up on the summit, I enjoyed the view over McHenrys, Chiefs Head, Pagoda, and Longs, all topped with a light dusting of fresh snow. The season is turning and this was a beautiful last push in the Park.