A couple of doughy WTA workers with coronas would do wonders for this trail. There are a number of blowdowns between the trailhead and the John Wayne railroad grade and another blowdown past it. There is a nasty smashed tree across the trail just before the John Wayne railroad grade. Otherwise this trail is open and ready for business. Sure, there are about 7 steep and scary snowfields to cross but if you have poles, it's no problem. The trail is dry up to the third switchback, then some scattered snow until you cross the snowfields. Total snow approaching the lake. The lake is rapidly thawing but only a small portion is free of ice. This is a great destination when temperatures reach above 80 in Seattle.

Silver Peak scramble via Annette Lake Trail
Friday, May 29, 2009, hottest day of year so far (83 deg in Seattle)
Left parking lot (1900 feet) at 10:45am and returned by 5:15pm (6.5 hrs), with lunch on top (5605 feet) and 3 or 4 short rests.
The trail is in good shape (up to snow line; can't really tell after that) with just a few blow-down trees. Just before crossing the Iron Horse Trail is a large Western Hemlock with shattered, rotten stem across trail. This will be interesting to clear, but easy to step over for now.
The trail goes up a north-facing drainage (Humpback Creek) protected from sun. We encountered snow at about 3000 ft (about halfway to Lake Annette) and it soon covered the trail and surrounding landscape. The lake (3640 feet) was frozen except for a few melt patches.
Turning left at Annette Lake, we walked straight up the snow-covered rock field, kicking steps with no trouble. As it was midday, snow was soft on top and well-consolidated underneath. It's perhaps 3 feet deep and melting fast on a day like this. We had a great seated glissade on the way down. The ridge and peak get more sun and are mostly snow-free. Easy, non-technical scramble to top.
Trillium was in bloom on lower portion with skunk cabbage just emerging.
The forest is remarkable in being hemlock the whole way: Western Hemlock down low with more and more Mountain Hemlock as you ascend to the peak. (The little 3/4 inch Western Hemlock cones at your feet gradually get intermixed with 2-3 inch Mountain Hemlock cones.) Lower portions include some Douglas Fir and a few Pacific Silver Fir but the stand is almost pure Hemlock much of the way. At the ridge, Mountain Hemlock is mixed with Subalpine Fir.

Be prepared for snow.

Perfect day for a hike with easy access to parking lot. Snow on trail starts just under 3000 ft level (1.5 miles) and signs of the trail are gone just over 2 miles up (3400 ft). Either know the trail well and/or have map and gps. Be sure and have ice axe or hiking poles, along with gaiters as rest of the way up the trail is basically walking on a 20 percent snow slope. Snow depth varies from two to five feet. Expect a few post holes.

Annette Lake is just beginning to melt out and the view is quite beautiful. There were no signs of anyone having been into the lake and I had it all to myself.

We started out from exit 47 and road 55 in the morning rain and had lunch at the lake in light snow (32°F). The snow was wet and deep on the route and requied snowshoes most of the way. The trail cannot be followed very far from the trailhead so we used a GPS to keep our heading to the 3700' lake. We passed several groups returning to the trailhead for lack of snowshoes and a BOALPS group that had a minor injury while crossing a narrow, snow covered, bridge. It will be a while before this trail #1019 is open to hiking.
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