An excellent hike that is now entirely doable if you don't mind a lot of obstacles. There are two major water crossings. The first one you could do with waterproof shoes. The second is thigh high, and we only felt safe crossing about 70 yards upriver of the trail. Fortunately we brought water sandals and poles and managed both crossings safely. (I recommend crossing at the widest part of the river, which you can find by walking up river. There is a camp site right near the crossing and from there you can follow a small trail to this wider part).
Before the first water crossing, the first mile and a half are pretty overgrown with brush and branches, but the trail is easy to follow and the brush isn't too bothersome. After the second water crossing (around mile 3) there are a LOT of blowdowns. Mostly not too difficult to climb over or go around but they will slow you down.
The last mile of the trail is mostly covered in snow still. It's easy to walk on, but make sure you have a navigation device in case you lose the trail. Waterproof shoes would also be useful for this very wet part of the trail.
In summary, this hike has it all: bears, snakes, deep water crossings, tons of blow downs, snow and a beautiful lake at the end! It was a great day, with some fun challenges and fantastic views.
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