Hiked.    made a short video with trail conditions...

check it out.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_VDsFS5IFs

The summer route is still closed; took a day off work to go up this way. Started around 7:00, made it up to the top by 11:30 with about 3:30 of moving time.

The beginning of the trail was very misty; we missed the Chocolate Falls crossing originally because we couldn't see the markers on the other side. The trail is very well-marked for the most part, with large posts and/or footprints from earlier climbers to guide you. You can avoid putting on your crampons or microspikes for the first few miles; the trail takes you up a rocky ridge. I put my microspikes on at the weather station. From there it's a step machine to the summit. Unfortunately, a cloud hung over the crater so we couldn't see anything.

A few tips:
- re-apply sunscreen at the top; otherwise, you'll get burned on the way down
- bring gaiters even if it's warm; otherwise, your feet will get wet on the way down
- don't forget sunglasses and try to cover up as much skin as you can
- bring waterproof pants for glissading. Ice axe optional, but recommended

All in all, a fun day on the mountain!

Climbers Bivouc still closed. Camped at Marble Mtn SnoPark the night before. We were prepared to camp on snow based on earlier reports, but there was nothing. SnoPark is completely dry.

Started a little later than expected the next morning around 530am. SnoPark trail 244 was dry and clear for the first mile or so, then snow/rock mix until Chocolate Falls and the Worm Flows trail marker. After that it was all snow, and your kicking steps. 

We climbed in the rocks on the ridge for a bit, but then dropped in to the snow slopes. Donned crampons after a bit for some extra purchase. The snow was soft enough, they weren't needed, but there are some steep spots that I liked having the extra purchase.

It's a long, slow, slog all the way up to the crater rim. We stopped for lunch at the weather station with a great view of Adams and Hood, and a little bit of Jefferson in the distance. There's a steep headwall around 7600ft or so, just below the final approach to the crater. You can go around it to the east towards the false summit, but we decided to sacrifice energy in favor of time/distance and go straight up. It was worth it.

Coming up to the crater rim we were immediately greeted by Rainier saying hi. The cornices have melted a bit, but they are still very much a hazard so stay away from the rim. The weather was perfect and clear so we had beautiful views of Rainier, Hood, Adams, and Jefferson while we enjoyed our Summit beers.

After drinking our beer and hanging around for a bit, it was time to go. The glissade chutes were perfectly formed and ready for our enjoyment. There are sections that drop over some steep rollers with poor visibility from above and more rocks are being exposed. Use your ice ax and control your descent.

Amazing day!

Camped at Marble Mountain Sno-Park and hit the trailhead about 5:30AM. This was a little bit later than we had intended to start however we had plenty of daylight by that time and didn't need to use headlamps as we thought we would. Weather forecast called for a high of 74 degrees and sunny skies. SUNSCREEN, sunglasses, head coverings are a must. I applied sunscreen twice and was pretty burned.

Encountered patchy but easily navigable snow about 1.5 miles into the trail while still in the dense trees. Hit more consistent snow after the Chocolate Falls area. My group and I took different routes up the ridge below the weather station. I climbed the rocky ridge, following an easy-to-see path and made good time up to a spot just below the weather station. My group stuck to the snow and battled slushy conditions and traffic jams. I put crampons on at the weather station and never took them off until the summit. 

Made good but slow progress up to the head wall due to somewhat slushy snow. Saw other climbers taking a longer but more gradual route around the head wall to reach the false summit. Our group kick-stepped a path up the head wall saving lots of time and forging a trail for the climbers behind. Reached the summit around 1:30PM and spent quite a bit of time taking pictures and celebrating the mountaintop engagement of two of our group members. Crater view was partially blocked by a large cornice that we stayed away from. Clear views of Mt. Adams, Hood, and Jefferson all day long, and Mt. Rainier greeted us at the summit. 

We were the last group to leave the summit around 3:30 PM (although we saw a group pretty far down that was headed up.) We glissaded down most of the way, going down some pretty steep (but fun!) chutes along the head wall. I only brought a trash bag for glissading (terrible idea) and switched to riding down on my rain jacket after the first slide. I felt every bump and piece of ice, and have scrapes and bruises as a result. The rest of my group was better prepared with rain pants and we saw other climbers with plastic sleds. We encountered some rocks that were just beginning to appear through the melting snow, including some small crevices, that weren't visible from the top of the glissade chute. Made it back to the car around 5:30PM.

Due to the warm weather, this hike will probably be completely different within a week or two. We brought ice axes, crampons, trekking poles, and I had microspikes (that I never used.) Used the poles for balance in the snow and only used the ice axe for glissading. The crampons made navigating the snow very manageable, although we saw several people without them. Again, sunscreen is a must!