My dad and I left Gilbert around 2:45 am and made the 2+ hour drive to Madera Canyon. We started in the dark using my headlamp and his flashlight and hiked for about an hour until it was light enough to see. The views on this hike were great, and for much of the trail you can see your destination. This was the highest peak my dad has ever hiked, and he hadn't been doing any training, so he really had to take his time. This was good for me though since I was able to really take my time and appreciate the scenery. We talked with several people going up and down, and one guy was training for the Appalachian trail. My dad was excited about making this climb and was glad that he pushed through and got to the summit and back with no problems besides sore toes. This is a great hike, and one that I would highly recommend doing.