Bridal Veil Falls, Lake Serene — Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024

The day we hiked was very rainy, so be sure to bring water-resistant gear. While the staircases were overall very helpful, it must be noted that the steps aren’t so much steps as they are wooden enclosures with rocks and dirt inside, which means that deep, unavoidable puddles form under wet conditions. Be ready for creek crossings galore, but most have rocks to hop on and, should a jump be missed, are typically only a little more than ankle deep. As of the day we hiked, there was a large downed tree not too long after the trail splits for Bridal Veil Falls. I would guess it was about twice my height, but it was manageable to climb and we even saw a man with a dog traverse the obstacle. There is snow towards the top that may cause minor slippage, but it only resulted in a few recoverable slipups for our party of mostly inexperienced hikers. Due to heavy snowfall at the top, Mount Index was unfortunately obscured (pictured below). Reference another user’s December 22, 2024 report for what the trip should look like under ideal conditions.