Emilee and I hiked to the park boundary from Strawberry Creek TH and started the traverse as it was getting light. We carried 4L of water because the only water on the route is snow. The ascents up Bald Mountain and Wheeler Peak were slow due to big vertical, heavy packs, and a stiff wind. The travel from Wheeler Peak to the saddle below Pyramid Peak was very tedious. Fortunately, the rest of the route was much better due to less loose rock. We experienced thunderstorms between Mount Washington and Lincoln Peak but the timing was perfect. That section drops back into the forest and by the time we got to Lincoln, we could feel the warmth of the sun and there was a rainbow! The bristlecone forests on either side of Mount Washington and Highland Ridge were absolutely magical. The smooth descent down the dirt road to the truck was a a lot easier so we were able to run some. It got dark a couple miles from the end. All in all, it was a fantastic day!