YOu can do the long days... even 6 miles out.... Carolyn and I have done the 12 out and 12 back in a few times in CO elk hunting.
I"d have sure preffered to have taken a paratarp which we later bought... along and stayed and got more rest...
It sure helps to be able to get out and stay until dark, and be there in the morning, rather than getting back at midnight and up at 2-3 again...
I"ve done Sheep Mountain in a day by myself on foot, never did do Pikes, but figure Sheep was not that far off anyway... IIRC less than 1000 feet difference.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
