I had been planning to bicycle up the closed portion of the highway to get to the trailhead but, bless the DOT, the road had just opened all the way to the parking lot!
This is a huge bang for your buck hike - modest elevation gain, mostly excellent trail, and non-stop spectacular views. I arrived at a full parking lot at 12:30 and found a single spot right next to the trailhead. The trailhead sign only reads 'Chain Lake' but the map next to the vault toilet labels the trailhead includes Ptarmigan Ridge at the same trailhead. There were ripe berries a few yards down from the trailhead and, surprisingly, in one of the handful of groves of trees the trail passes thru along the way.
There are three patches of snow left. The first is on a slope. The treads were well worn and not too slick so it was easily crossed with poles. The second two are farther on, flatter and farther from the downward slope.
Once past the Chain Lake junction there were people on the trail but it didn't feel crowded at all. Fantastic afternoon!
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