First time snowshoeing this route and would have to say it is perhaps the most scenic trip I have taken to date.
Took the winter route up. Follow Alpental road past the lower and main parking lots, past the upper lot and overnight lot, to even a further parking lot. From here, there is a wide, cat tracked groomed path, well signed as the return route for back county skiers. We parked in the main lot and walked up.
The winter route is far safer avalanche wise, along the southwest side of the creek on the other side of the valley as the summer trail. Trail was wide for a mile or so and then becomes more of a traditional trail width. Was clear to follow the entire way.
Made it to source lake, continued straight uphill from there and curved right towards the alternate summer trail to snow lake and overlook. Got a great view of the lake. The return down the slope towards Source Lake was a bit tricky and required comfort on traversing steep, open slopes.
Since the avalanche danger was low, returned via the summer trail. Do not do this when avalanche danger is medium or high. Could see avalanche debris over the trail on several of the shoots. Also, there were several water crossings on the return on the summer trail, that required us to remove our snow shoes (we left them off after the first one). Especially on the first on we encountered, it was a bit dangerous to descend down the snowbank to the crossing. The crossings themselves were fine.
The views were fantastic throughout.
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