This one kicked my butt today, but it was a beautiful day to be out.
The snow free parts of the trail are very wet and rocky, but nothing too extraordinary. Snow covers the trail starting at around 2100'. The snow is mostly packed down in the center of the trail, but regular soft spots and surprise postholing made me very nervous for my knees and ankles - especially the last 1/3 of the way up. I wanted to change into my microspikes approaching the top but there just wasn't a good place to do it. I was very grateful to have spikes and gaiters for the way down. I wouldn't recommend doing this hike without poles in current conditions.
I wish I'd worn a long sleeved shirt since, although I was warm enough while moving for just one layer, there is a lot of soggy brush at shoulder height all throughout.
The final push to the top is the most onerous, both going up and coming down: the trail is very narrow and steep, there were lots of dangerously soft spots for my feet to find, and I feel like I constantly had wet pokey branches in my face. The views of Rainier and the watershed near the top made it worth it. I think.
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