Saw your car in the mound lot - I had a nearly identical experience as you guys. It was much colder/wetter than I anticipated. I remembered you guys using poop bags at Death by Gravel and was thrilled to find a roll of them in the doggie station at Klondike. Saved my ride - thanks for the pro tip!
FWIW I think the climb sounds low for what you rode...
yes 3 cheers for poop bags! they didn’t help our feet yesterday but i think they stopped them from getting worse. it was so wet out there.
i looked up a previous ride w similar route and it was about 4000’. maybe the temp swing affected the altimeter in my computer. Edge 520. barometric altimeter.