As a follow-up to rkjenner's typically helpful recent report, there is once again a portapotty at the trailhead: handicapped accessible and surprisingly clean.
The road to the trailhead has the usual potholes after the pavement ends, but they're not too deep and pretty easy to avoid most.
I did the summit loop clockwise, and there's more snow on the southern/climber's left side of the loop after Horse Camp. I postholed once, and because there's snow but the temperatures are warm enough to melt away footprints, I had to consult my map a couple of times to make sure I was on the route on this side. I think this is complicated by the fact that the predominant winter route didn't coincide with the actual trail, which is emerging from the snow covering. I carried microspikes but was never tempted to use them; plenty of purchase in the soft snow.
If you want the easiest up/down, you could just stay climber's right at Horse Camp and come back the same way. There's very little snow to navigate this way -- just a few blowdowns up on the ridge.
Speaking of the ridge, the last few times I've hiked Mt. Rose, I've done the up-and-down on the steeper side, and I had forgotten how pleasant the traverse up on the ridge can be.
Probably exacerbated because I went around dusk, some bugs were buzzing around me in the wooded/wet area above Horse Camp whenever I paused, but it wasn't bad.
Watch out for deer: I encountered them crossing the road on my drive both to and from the trailhead.
Oh, and if you were enjoying Nerds Gummy Clusters up near the summit, don't worry, I picked up your wrappers. ;-)
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