I left work at noon to get to the Turnipseed trailhead at 4PM on Friday and head up the ridge. The stream behind Turnipseed was barely flowing and none of the other springs had any water. Camped right before the stairway to heaven. Wide awake at 5AM on Saturday, I headed down the stairway in the dark with a headlamp. I made good time to Adams Gap, passing two camps with everyone still asleep. There was plenty of water past the Gap. I got water at the first big creek and then had a long rest break at Hubbard Creek. Exhaustion from the 95 heat index kicked in just past Devil's Den. Took a 30 minute break at Cheaha Falls and drank a gallon. The home stretch out was a lot easier after that break. Back at the parking lot, two guys who had started at Adams asked for a ride back to their vehicle and I had plenty of room in the truck for both of them. They had run out of water on the dry side and were ready to call it quits. On the way out to the interstate, multiple ambulances and law enforcement vehicles were flying in with sirens and lights going.