Started this trek around 0800, girls were still asleep and figured would be best if I got a move on before the awoke.  Lea Lea got up with me to help me get ready and saw me off.  1st mile or so was steep and on side of a cliff w/ multiple cutbacks.  This face was oriented to the east, so this early was getting all the sun’s energy.  HOT!!  I ran into 2 couples that were avid balloonist doing the El Paso fly for the weekend and Memorial Day.  Very funny guy and the name of their team was the “one eyed purple people eater”.   Just over the top and making my way up the northern side, was in the shade now for most of the couple of miles.  Nature called about 2 hours into the hike, thank goodness I grabbed some TP!!  I finally came across the “Google Earth” highest bridge in Texas!!  Still in the shade from the early morning push.  Got some video and took some still pics w/ the Canon.  Got call from Lea Lea on the Rino and she said she had just talked to the Ranger about us leaving before noon, since the campground was full and we squeaked in there nite before and stayed w/ 2 other couples.  Very windy all night and the next day BTW.  She relayed back to me that the ranger said it would typically take 6-8 hours unless you are a marathon runner.  By looking at the GPS, I gathered that I might have about 30 to 40 minutes left to the summit which would put me up there around 1100.  Therefore, I place myself in the marathon category!!  Coming up to the peak, the last few switchbacks were on the south face and you could see the famous “Capitan” out to my left.  Got a little windy on this section, but that just meant I was closer to the top.  Finally made it up there to see the GE stainless steel pyramid dealio that had the US Post Office on the side.  Got a 360 degree picture up there and some others of the Capitan.  Was able to get a couple of Bubbas to take my pic just to validate the moment and then quickly gathered my stuff to cranium down trying to make the 1200 checkout.  So total time up here was right at 3 hours.  Grabbed a cliff bar on the way down and began slowly jogging down to hurry up and not upset the Ranger with our “wind-blown” tent still sitting there. Ran into the “one eyed purple people eater” ballon team again.  They were almost to the top, I figured 30 minutes.  Kali and Madison kept up w/ me on the other Rino the entire hike.  They often called to see when I would be down.  Once I got to the Eastern facing cliff, I continuously tried to talk their eyes on to me making my way down in a yellow bassmaster hat and blue Nike shirt.  They never were able to see me.  Finally made it to the bottom, thighs were burning as well as shins.  Girls were happy to see me, guess the radio just intensified the experience.  I made it to the bottom in about 1:45. So the total on this trip ended up being 4:45