5/27/2023: A pleasant snowshoe up to Glacier Vista. LOTS of people out on this Memorial Day Saturday! The upper & lower parking lots were full by 8:30 or 9am. Many climbers were headed up to Camp Muir and eventual summit attempt. The snow was firm in the morning, and many climbed in just their boots, some had microspikes. In the afternoon the surface snow was soft, and I was glad to be wearing snowshoes.
At least 3 parties - all who appeared to be experienced hikers - mentioned that the east side of Alta Vista was treacherous, it took them a long time to navigate the route due to ice and sliding snow. Three folks in one party lost balance and slid a long ways down and had to climb back up. This area is high avalanche danger, so the NPS recommends traveling on the west side of Alta Vista.
The usual afternoon clouds started drifting in and obscured the route, so I didn't attempt Panorama Point. Instead I hung out in the bowl at the base of Panorama Point just enjoying the stunning scenery - can never get enough of it!
Note that "Marmot Hill" and other areas (including the east side of Alta Vista) are starting to melt out, and pasqueflowers are emerging! Visitors are encouraged to stay off the melted-out meadow (which looks like plain dirt right now) - it is very fragile and footsteps kill the flowers. As the NPS says, Paradise meadows "grow by the inch and die by the foot." Please stay on trail (where it is visible) or stay on the snow or rocks - don't walk on the "dirt"! That will leave more flowers for everyone to enjoy. Thanks!
There were hoards of people playing in the snow below Alta Visita in the afternoon - many said it was their first time seeing snow. It was fun to watch their immense pleasure. Lots of folks visiting from the southern US and from around the world.
The brilliant sun reflecting off the snow sure leads to easy sunburns! Despite applying zinc based sunscreen with 2 additional applications - I still had a red face and a small triangle sunburn above my nose. Fortunately, by wearing 2 layers of sunglasses I didn't burn my eyes. I was glad the rest of me was completely covered up (including sun gloves). However, lots of folks were out on the snow wearing shorts and T-shirts and no sunglasses - yikes!
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