The Larch
Yes, they are still going, but there is ample evidence of needles dropping, so the clock is ticking. Looking at the upcoming forecast, tomorrow and Thursday are your best shot at clear skies before the next round of precipitation. Larches begin to appear in force at the last mile, particularly after the junction with the Liberty Bell climbing access trail.
The Snow and Trail
The standard WTA snow conditions categories don't exactly apply, but I'll say that most of the trail was covered by compacted, but not crusty snow. One short section near the midpoint was fully melted and flooded, but passable. The snow/ice had largely decent traction all things considered (with the notable exception of one incline feature near the final cutback to the lake), but another freeze and thaw cycle for tomorrow may change that for the worse. I'd recommend poles and spikes to keep you on your feet especially for the descent, but you could get by without them if you take it slow and are light on your feet. The moderate and fairly consistent incline helps keep things from getting too slippery.
The Throng
Yes, even on a Tuesday, this was a highly populated trail. To be fair, I came here in the early afternoon after completing the Maple Pass circuit, but I was parked about 50th on the side of the highway a full quarter mile from the trailhead. There was a lot of yielding and passing, a lot of dogs to navigate, but it wasn't ever truly jammed up. Importantly, it was possible to get unobstructed views and pictures.
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