I booked the 5-7am slot at RMNP every week this summer and had no problems, including July 4.

If you're doing anything that's life and death, you arrive before 5am anyway. The accident you reference mentioned that he knew it was a lazy choice:

> This summer the park continued a timed-entry system it launched in 2021. The program requires visitors to schedule and reserve windows of time to enter the park. Toor said he wanted to start earlier but was only able to secure an 8 a.m. entry reservation. Feduschak and Gaines, who ascended a much more technical route, entered the park before the timed entry system starts at 5 a.m.

> “Eight was a late start, but we didn’t quite have the oomph to get in before the 5 a.m. cutoff,” Toor said. “Maybe we just need to suck it up and get there before 5 a.m.”