This is a wonderful trail as long as you're prepared for a the basically constant and often steep incline of the first half. There was a lot of stagnant snowmelt around which meant LOTS of bugs that ate my hiking parner alive (who was in shorts), and a few snow banks across the trail once you get to the ridge including one that covered the trail completely as it wound along a steep slope (making for a long fall if you slip), but the reward when you get to the top is more than worth it.
It was also quite sparsely populated despite it being the middle of a long holiday weekend and only an hour away from the eastside, so if you're looking for a reasonably challenging day hike that won't be mobbed and has a great view, this should be on your list.
One note to the WTA: there was a recent tree fall across the trail about halfway up to the ridge (I want to say the sixth or seventh switchback?) that will require a chainsaw to remove.
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