Comments:

The Going Nuts variation to the first two pitches was really easy and just pure fun for me. Larry suggested this, and as soon as he mentioned it I decided it was a good idea, partly just to avoid the crowds, and partly because it sounded better than repeating a route I'd done before. It did add a pitch to our climb since we had to scramble 50 - 80 feet to the right on a large ledge to rejoin Solar Slab. But I linked pitches 4 and 5 of Solar Slab, as well as 6 and 7, and then we simul-climbed to link the final two pitches (the first of which is all 3rd class). We reached the summit just after 2 PM, and started down just after 3:00. We did the five rappels to reach the base of Solar Slab in under two hours, with just a few minor rope snags, then rappelled Solar Slab Gully in about an hour, reaching the base by about 6 PM. We snacked and organized gear at the base for a little while before starting our hike out, and got back to the car around 7:30, just as it started to get completely dark.