Not much to add to recent reports.
FR 8440 is clear of snow for about a 1/4 mile. You'll have to walk the snow covered road for 1.5 + to the TH. 1 new blowdown since my last report on 5/9. along the last stretch of FR that will need to be cut away for cars to reach the TH parking.
The trail is mostly covered in deep slushy snow. Our group did fine with micro spikes and poles. We brought ice axes for final push on steep snow fields, but poles would be sufficient.
Someone placed pink ribbons on trees which were helpful.
Watch out for downed trees and weak snow bridges between tree wells. One of my legs punched through about 4 ft down next to a downed tree covered in snow. Some small streams have worn tunnels in the deep snow on exposed hillsides, just watch your step.
We watched a storm roll in as we reached the lookout. We could see 1/2 of Rainier, Adams, Helens and Hood for a split second before the thunder and lightning rolled in.
We decided it was a good time to leave the tallest peak in the area as our hair started standing on end and the metal objects on the lookout whizzed and crackled with static in the electric air of the impending storm.
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