Reply To: Need advice: What time to start to camp at Summit?

[wanderluster]

Take the advice above and start early in the morning and don’t rush up.  It allows you to get up high before the heat starts cooking Forest Falls (90F isn’t uncommon), and you’ll be able to find a parking spot closer to the trailhead than somewhere in Mentone.  Take it slow so you can enjoy the scenery, take extended breaks at all the water sources (‘ultra-hydrate’), and if you do get to the summit in the afternoon you can enjoy the view and relax/nap.

Also, it depends on your conditioning.  From parking lot to the summit I’ve day hiked it in as little as three hours, but if overnighting at the summit I’ve taken as long as a leisurely 8 hours.