College students are not known as morning people. So it was a rare sight Wednesday when a few hundred students, fueled by excitement and Krispy Kremes, gathered in the Hollins University quad well before 9 a.m.

They came in their costumed best -- long purple wigs and the occasional pair of sheer fairy wings. There were pink foil capes, pink feather boas, rainbow-striped socks. Pirate hats, bunny ears and at least one bear head.

Here, in fluffy bathrobes to black slinky dresses and sequined skirts, this group of Hollins students were about to continue a tradition practiced for more than 100 years.

"Tink-err Daaay," shouted senior Anna Moncure, 22, as she arrived on the quad in a snowman-print nightgown, feather boa and a teddy bear-like head from a child's costume.

It's a ritual Hollins women have practiced every fall since 1895. Classes are canceled, the campus chapel bells ring at 7 a.m., letting everyone know Tinker Day has arrived. The date each year is a surprise, usually following fall's first frost, but the practice stays the same.

Hollins president Nancy Gray -- wearing Cat in the Hat-style headwear and a pink tutu -- proclaimed Tinker Day had arrived. What followed was a not-so-smooth hike to the top of adjacent Tinker Mountain, lunch of fried chicken and chocolate "Tinker cake," followed by class skits and the hike down.

Scaling a mountain in costume is strenuous -- it is an hour-plus journey similar to climbing an endless flight of stairs with tree trunks as banisters, exposed roots and steppingstones of rocks -- but many who take this journey say it brings students at the women's college closer.

"It's when you love Hollins the most," explained senior Julia Knox, 20.

Following Gray's proclamation, the girls began their walk, carrying bottles of water, plastic swords and toy magic wands -- following the path of so many young women in these woods before them.

Giggles, cheering and chatter trailed off once the climb began, replaced by the sound of shoes rustling fallen leaves and the occasional comment from students calling, "Feel the burn" or saying they needed to quit smoking.

Propped against trees were glittery signs offering encouragement along the way.

"Well-behaved women rarely make history," one read, leading one student to declare the quote her favorite of all time.

Along the way, orange, gold and green leaves formed mosaic dots like Seurat paintings, and sunlight occasionally filtered through. Students stopped to rest against mossy rocks and gulp water. And it was not long before these climbers needed tissues.

"This is gross, but it's all I have," one student explained before using her sleeve as a handkerchief.

Just as the are-we-there-yet questions began to arise, there stood a sign telling hikers they'd reached the halfway point, prompting one student to belt out a line from Bon Jovi: "Whoa, halfway there, whoa, livin' on prayer. ..."

The last half of the climb was nearly vertical, an ascent when tree limbs were grabbed for support, the sweat began showing, the pace slowed and students joked about tumbling down the mountain.

Moncure, her bear-hat tilted, said breathlessly that the hike has not gotten easier over the years -- only harder.

But up ahead, cheers offered hope the summit was near. Calls of "You're almost there," and "Tinker Day!" encouraged climbers.

Near the summit, two students turned to look at the view, gasping at hills that rolled like waves and a lake down below.

Pam Cruz, the hike's leader, stood just below the hilltop, urging climbers on.

"This has been done for 100 years," she called, adding that the mountain has probably eroded since then. "But it's the principle."

At the top, each climber was greeted with a high five. Then they stood, with sweat-glistened faces and asking for tissues, under the morning sun. They saw the valley below, wispy clouds above and the tops of orange trees and green grass.

Suddenly, the work was worth every step.

"I thought I was going to die," explained Brittany Walker, 22, who hiked in a blond afro wig, fishnets and a black evening gown from Goodwill. "But once I got up here, it was totally worth it."

At the top, students posed for pictures, recorded messages into digital cameras, saying they were "tired but happy."

Some told about their mountain-climbing victory on their cellphones.

"We made it," one student told the person on the other end. "I'm on top of a mountain."