I was out on this trail all weekend as part of the WTA work party, and made the trek back out to the lookout after we wrapped up our day.
There are a few sections with snow to cross, though I expect they'll melt quickly. I did see some people going off trail to make a shortcut through the snow or slide down a hillside like it was a sledding slope which I do not recommend- you never know how deep the snow is or what's underneath it- the recent disappearance of a skiier into a stream under a snowfield should be a good reminder to always use caution on the trail.
The weather all weekend was amazing, clear skies and amazing views of Rainier. We spent our day straightening out and widening the trail, there was no shortage of hikers. The path is pretty dusty in most places because there hasn't been much rain. I recommend bringing plenty of water and sunscreen, it gets warm and dry and you don't want to be stuck out there thirsty for lack of planning.
Plenty of ground squirrels on the trail, many of them have no fear of humans- please don't feed them. As always, stay on the trail! The alpine meadows are so fragile, the plants take a long time to grow and recover.
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