Still deep snow on the Artist Point road, past the Heather Meadows parking lot. we get more conditions like yesterday, it will melt fast, but there's enough to last for months yet. However, I was informed that I was the last snowshoe rental of the season at Bellevue REI, and the other REIs have stopped for the season too, so you'll have to scrounge or bring your own.
We left the trailhead before 9, and the snow was still quite firm and crunchy, but it softened up quickly in the sun. On the way out I even postholed once on the edge of the packed trail, even with tails on my snowshoes. However, there were also plenty of people making it up in just spikes, or even just street shoes; depends on your balance, weight, and skill, I guess.
The place where the road veers into the ski resort, and the snowshoe route goes along the ski area boundary straight up the side of Austin Pass, is a real thigh and lung burner, especially if your conditioning slacks off in winter like mine. I'd recommend not burning yourself out here, because there's still one more push right before the top/ridge crest/summer parking lot. I ended up not making that, but if you're in at all better shape than me, you should be fine.
The forecast vacillated between partly cloudy and overcast, and it ended up being beautiful, with just high clouds. I feel like sunny spring weekends are probably the best time to do this hike, especially if you're there for the sweeping vistas.
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