Nice account, OP. Sounds very similar to my experience of last August, except it was dry the entire way.
The ascent took me 5 hours (4.5 hours, rolling), but I had saved plenty for the descent. I was so intent on bombing the whole way down, I left my windbreaker and winter gloves on, all the way to the beach, where I had started at sunrise. When I arrived at the beach, my wife, son, and son's friend were there, playing in the water. I was speechless, as to how to describe to them the ride I had just had. To folks who don't ride, it's impossible to adequately describe the experience.