I totally agree about the incredible contrast between the arid landscape and the beautiful blue sky, and also that striking orange of your friend hahaha, the pictures are amazing, it looks so but so huge everything that just looking at the images I feel it's exhausting hahaha well it's a matter of habit.
Yes it is true that in the end the images reflect a greater complexity on the way, but you have achieved it without serious inconveniences, so you must be more than satisfied.
Yeah bright colors are the way to go for hiking attire.
Yeah we were pretty satisfied with the hike in general