There are a few windfalls on the way to Mt Defiance summit. We had some excellent views from the top for a change. Great views of Kulla Kulla (the Yale fight song) and even Mt Reindeer. We took a side trip over the Little Mason Lake (passing Teensy Mason Swamp on the way). Summer starts when the leaves start changing colour. Things are really confused. Don't forget to vote next Saturday. I don't like the right-wing Liberal Party, but since Jeff Kennett doesn't mind using the word f--- and dips his hair in the toilet bowl for body and shape; hey, maybe he's the one to give the Lyons Forum a boot in the bum.

Climbed the trail to Mason lake. The trail is snow free to Mason Lake; some snow remains on the South Shore. There are minor snow patches between Mason Lake and Rainbow Lake. Lots of Marmots singing at Mason Lake. Huckleberry are ripe at the bottom of the trail.

We only went as far as Rainbow lake, but it looks like the trail condition remains the same for the rest of the way. Occasional patches of snow but passable nonetheless. Rainbow lake and Island lake are completely melted.

Bandera was a good workout after couch-exercising with cookie-curls the last 3 rainy weekends. To escape most of the holiday masses I arrived at the TH by 9am (two cars in lot). The trail is essentially snow-free. As the vanguard of the hordes approached the west summit around noon I took out my ice axe and descended the very easy north ridge down to Rainbow Lake. There is still 2-4' of snow at lakes with no melt-out yet. Finding no tracks I followed the approximate summer trail over to Mason Lake on 1' of snow. The lake is still mostly covered in ice/slush. The snow ends about halfway down to the trail junction at the boulder field. The old streamside trail was snow-free and not too muddy. I rejoined the collective at the overflowing parking lot.

I did a snowline exploration on Saturday. Went up the Mason Lake to Mt. Defiance. The parking lot was full to my suprise. The steep part of the trail was clear of snow to the rockslide. At the slide I met a large party (Mountaineer') turning around because of the snow. The slide was entirely snow covered but easier to cross than when bare no real holes yet, do not know how long that will last. Devils club was not yet out on the other side slide but there were some blowdowns in the place where the trail used to be. Mason lake is still frozen with 6’ of snow around it, nice flat rock sticking out near the campsites. I saw footprints directly up ridge to summit of Mt. Defiance and met two guys who had kindly kicked steps on the near perfect snow. Fantastic view from Summit still looked like winter. Lakes Kullla Kulla, Rainbow, Blazer, and Pratt all appeared to be snow covered also.Ice axe was manditory as there is no good run out on descent.