This was my virgin trip up Skyline. Steve, Fern, Tina, Zach and I started at the museum at 0515. The sunrise was spectacular, with the sky abaze... lasting much longer than that to which Im accustomed further north in the Sierra. We saw 3 deer at around the 3500 elevation, just beyond the "Enchanted Forest". At Flat Rock my legs started cramping (real problem with that the past year), so Zach gave me some Pringles and I took some electroyte caps and headed upward slowly. The cramps lessened, but the muscles remained twitchy, and cramped up again while high stepping across the snowy traverse further north. Patches of snow started at Flat Rock, and we put the chains on at the 7400' level, just before traversing the snowy drainages to Coffman's Crag. My time was slow, 8 hours, and I appreciate the patience of the others who can do this hike in half the time! My favorite part was the snow travel! Stats vary, depending on source, but our route was about 9 miles, total ascent around 8200'.