Parked at end of drivable road. Camped at Watson Lake, made a trip up to the Butte on the way out.
Weather: partly cloudy and above-freezing Sunday. Clouds cleared out Sunday evening for crystal clear skies and incredible views of the stars (including a few meteors!). Temperature in Watson Lake basin was near 20F overnight, didn't warm up much until midday it reached near freezing. Hoarfrost developed on everything overnight.
Road: drivable until ~3700ft, at which point it becomes covered in hard-packed icy snow, which becomes patchy further up.
Trail in general: No blowdowns, easily navigated to Watson Lake. Highly variable snow cover, up to 2' deep in open areas, sometimes bare but icy when under tree cover. Snow was well-consolidated and crusty. Used snowshoes to cross meadows Sunday but it was hard enough to be unnecessary Monday. I used boots with microspikes, but another group with just trailrunners seemed to do just fine.
Watson Lakes: For the pass above Watson Lakes, keep an eye for the summer trail that keeps leftish just after you start to ascend; the snowshoe tracks go straight up the slope and it's just not necessary. The trail down the basin on the way down passes through a slope that could be an avvy risk in the right conditions. Lakes are fully frozen over but the outlet creek is open. Very cold but very beautiful night. Slept with my tent door open for the view and got a mouse running around at one point. Mind your food storage!
Anderson Butte: I recommend you proceed with caution, and only on days with low forecasted avalanche risk. Trail felt mostly safe except near/at the top. There were no recent tracks going up to the Butte, but the trail was easy enough to follow if you have experience following a trail under snow, and take your time and keep an eye for switchbacks. Still variable snow cover on trail from bare to 2' deep, hiked in boots with microspikes. The snow at the top was very firm and consolidated, but I'd still be extremely careful about being up there. No signs of recent avvy activity except for a few old rollerballs (previous days, they had hoarfrost on them). If there is more snow or higher avvy danger, I'd give this trail a miss, there is a steep snowfield immediately before the pass below the lookout site, and the ridgeline itself is fairly steep. The views beg you to step just a little bit further, don't listen to them.
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