We hit the trail at a pleasant 5:45. First 13-ish miles to Mokowanis Junction flew by, conversation came easily and we made it there in about 3 hours. Another hour brought us to Stoney Indian Pass, and we began to scamper through loose rock and class 3 cliffs? below the algal reef and famed goat trail.
The goat trail went easily - nothing of note except a few frivolous class 4 pitches I mistakenly climbed, anywhere I did something stupid Keegan would just choose the correct route. Rain hit us just as we were nearing the final 2k ridge push and a few debates were had involving Keegan’s fancy weather app (thanks OpenSnow) but after 20 plus miles already we would have probably sumitted in a tropical storm if one was passing through.
Thankfully the rain as off and on, no lightning , the final push went quickly, and we summited around 12:40. Bruin friend was eating moths on the summit block but he wanted nothing to do with us and disappeared. We took some pictures, saw the masses of dark clouds over the Livingston Range, and headed down after an only 5 minutes at the top. The west wind howled, and we booked it down to the goat trail in 20 minutes or so.
The relief we felt from the wind on the East facing goat trail was incredible, a little oasis for a few miles. Wet rock had us locked in, but we still made good time down. Made it down to SIP and took a short break, and proceeded to saunter down the overgrown trail to MOJ. I biffed it a few times trying to run when I couldn’t see my feet through the brush, but 2/3 of that section was pleasant running.
The miles along Glenn’s Lake were a grind, and we took a long(ish) break at Glenn’s foot to grab water and soak the legs. Somehow the running became easier (for a few miles) after that, better trail along Cosley lake and some downhill running to the ranger station. The 4 miles until the last hill were a brutal grind, I was just hanging on to Keegan as he set what felt like a stiff pace for being 40 miles in. All the weather had moved east and it was hot for the first time that day, 80 with a decent breeze. The hill came and brought relief to me - I couldn’t run another step, really, and the last two miles of uphill hiking to the car was a pleasant change of pace.