Past Mason Lake, the snow is quite deep. You'll find yourself ascending some sections using your hands and feet because it's simply not possible to hike up. Some sections were just "unusually steep".
(FWIW I was trail running, not hiking, so I was pretty lean on gear overall)
Microspikes are a requisite. As is a GPS track. I wandered off-trail on the way down and had to rely on GPS to double-back and re-find the trail. I did set out some trail-markers on the way up as well.
The trail doesn't follow the normal route above 4,800'. It follows the SE ridge of the mountain, sticking to the center-most section of the ridge (which is good, as the normal trail is on the outer section and has a steep slope). I'll attach a photo. I was much more comfortable staying near the center of that ridge than I would have been going to the outside.
Once you get to the flat section beneath the summit (~5,150'), that's where your hike ends, as that east-west section of the trail crosses an avalanche chute that just looks incredibly dangerous (I'll attach a photo). The trail just suddenly stops (where you emerge from the trees). The snowfield is wickedly deep, so it'll be awhile before it's crossable.
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