Charleston Peak North Loop (6/27/21, 4:40:58AM)

Trail is nice, elevation gain is tough. Altitude takes a tole. Bring at least 5 liters, possibly filter or sterile pen, spring at mile 5-6 from North Loop trailhead. I ran out of water with 3.5 miles left. I only brought 4 liters. I filled up a bottle at the spring, but had no filter. I ended up needing to drink about half of the bottle to make it back to the car, I should have or could have drank another liter pretty easy. Playing giardia roulette at the moment… I did have plenty of fluids back at the car, for which I was thankful. I ran almost all the downhills and flats and about 20% of the uphill. Took several picture breaks and sat on the peak for 20-30 minutes. Several areas are very steep on the way up. Exhilarating runs along cliff sides for quite some time.You don’t notice how crazy it is until you look back at it. Zoom in on the cliffs picture to find the trail on the cliff side. Trail is pretty flat but is pushing off the edge slightly. I kicked a rock that went down the side and I quickly saw it disappear off the edge of a cliff. I didn’t kick it hard, it just tumbled easily because of how steep it was. Gaia has this tracked at just over 5,100, All Trails has it at 5,500, I prepared my mind for 5,500 and it felt every bit of that. Could continue on trail and get picked up in Mt. Charleston village. Beautiful trail kept running off the back side of the peak. Also check for trail on narrow spine running towards Devils thumb?? In pictures. I was first car at trailhead, when I returned cars were parked up and down the roads as far as they could reach. Trail was busy 3-4 miles from trailhead with with the smell of freshly showered and panting fikers, complaining about how steep it is and how hot. The smell of 130 proof sunscreen filled the air. The sounds of dads forcing their kids to keep up and stop crying took presence over the chirping birds and tilting timbers.