I spent this sunny Saturday trying to avoid avalanche danger and still get good views, so Mount Rose was the perfect place to go. We were the third car in the tiny lot at 7:30 AM and didn't encounter a lot of people until the hike down around noon.
Just like the description says, this trail is a butt kicker. It showed me how out of shape I've gotten since backpacking season! I was drenched in sweat and happy to have brought multiple layers. The snow starts shortly after Horse Camp. We went left at the loop split and returned down the same way. The trail is hard packed snow/ice most of the way after this point. We were able to go a decent distance with just poles and winter boots but as you get nearer to the top, microspikes are a must!! There are a few pretty vertical sections of snow that would be impossible without them. Make sure to follow the orange flags on the trees. I felt they were pretty easy to follow but we saw someone backtracking down the trail who said she had gotten lost.
The view at the top is great and worth the strenuous climb. There isn't a lot of room on the top outcropping of rocks that make for the coolest pictures, so get there early if you don't want to wait in line for others to get their pics! The gray jays swarm as soon as you get to the top. They're very cute, but PLEASE don't feed them!!
Overall, this is a great training hike. Much better than Cable Line because there's such a good view at the top. Make sure to grab a picnic table by Cushman on the way out to have a snack!
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