We started on the trail around 5:30. It was windy and breathtaking. There was a sea of clouds in an incredible sunrise. Mother nature graced us with an epic day. The fall colors were all around. Red, gold, and green! We took tons of pictures, which added time but also captured it. Each pass was gorgeous in its own way and the many moods and scenes of the ONP rolled out before us. There were plenty of great water sources to stay hydrated. The weather was perfect all day, sun breaks and mild temperatures maintained through this adventure. The final climb felt like it would never end. Both of us were struggling to eat calories. Once it flattened out at the top, we sprinted back to the start in thick fog in the moonlight. This loop exceeded all expectations.