Quite a few people on the trail, but aside from some unleashed dogs, most everyone was pleasant and well-behaved. We got to the trailhead about 9:15, but I kind of wish we'd gotten there even earlier because the afternoon really heated up! While there is some shade and breeze, there was a lot of sun exposure.

The trail goes at a gradual slope up the valley until it starts switchbacking up the headwall. At that point, there is a spur trail that goes off to overlook the tiny Source Lake. It's not a long or steep trail, and we got some quiet alone time beside a little waterfall looking down the valley. We could have kept going, but the trail eventually crossed a snowfield with a visible collapse. Instead, we headed up to the saddle above Snow Lake. Being lazy, we didn't go down to the lake, but instead ate our lunch on a rock overlooking the water. I had some difficulty climbing up the rock and only afterwards noticed a trail on the left side that would have made things much easier. A stiff breeze was blowing off the lake, leaving us glad we'd brought an extra layer.

This is a lovely hike, and a nice one for a hot summer day--just bring lots of water and sunblock! My only complaint is that the trail is extremely rocky. Particularly on the switchbacks, we had to clamber over jagged, slippery  rocks. We had poles and good boots, so there weren't any disasters, but I'd rather be focused on my surroundings than my feet.