Forget the StairMaster in the gym! Just get your snowshoes and backpack and head to Granite Mountain! I have done this trail before during the summer, but it was my first time on the winter route. I went with Erik this Saturday, and we both were surprised by how steep and hard it was. It starts sharing the summer route, but at some point before you would cross the gully to the right on the summer route it decides to take the shortest path and starts climbing all the way to the lookout! The snow pack was kind of strange. At first, still under the trees, it was good, then at the opened area after that it was almost gone, and later, near the ridge top, it was back in full power, making the last section of the trail very beautiful. We used snowshoes for the most part, but we probably could have done it without them. We arrived at the top at noon, 3.5 hours after we had left the car. Amazed by how great the views and the weather were up there, we spent almost 2 hours at the top during lunch! It was a very good rest too! The way down was great! We had a lot of fun glissading at several sections before the tree line. After that it was another hour or so and we got back to the car at 4:30pm, about 2.5 hours from the summit. More pictures at http://spaces.msn.com/members/carlosp

The first 3/4 of the trail is completely clear and in good shape, and the south face is snow-free; summer route is the way to go. After traversing the gully and heading up on the ridge, you'll run into snow. The north side of Granite has approx 2' to 2' 6"". The most straight forward way up heads behind (north side) of the ridge, then heads straight up just to the left of the lookout tower. Surface snow was a bit melted due to the sun, but the path was well traveled. Gaiters, warm clothes, poles and/or ax recommended for the top. 2 hrs up.

Close-in and doable were the leading issues. The fact that it would also be Spring played a role, too. No snow until way after the gulley. Oh, yes, there were some packed to glacier ice-mud patches before that in very hit and miss fashion but there was very little snow until near the last switchback or two before the ridge hits the trail at what I refer to as the old pond area. Took the ""Summer"" route since laziness meant following the packed trail around to the north. That wound its way around and up and finally just made a beeline for the Lookout. It was quite firm in places, particularly on the way up when it was still pretty solid. There was definitely a hardy wind blowing. Took shelter in some trees on the west side of the lookout and it was sunshine and pleasant. The wind was refreshing on the way up but not so once there. Ate, drank, chanced into a dry shirt and gawked at the lack of snow in general. The snow was more yielding on the way down but my ice axe was a comforting companion. Rainier was showing through a high cloud that was not over Granite Mt. The clouds did definitely move in when I was back at the parking lot. Oh, still thin but definitely congealing. Lots of folks were starting up as I was heading down and even as I got to the parking lot around 2:20pm. So, can you believe that's the lookout and slope in February, late Feburary. And that's the area north and east looking to Mt Stuart (or is that Stewart?). Whoops, oh, its the lookout instead with a crow circling. No bugs but that was probably more due to wind than hatching temperatures!!!

started out at the trail head at about 12 and there was a handful of cars in the parking lot! the trail up to the fork (granite/pratt) was easy going, a little muddy but in great condition. the few creek crossings were of no concern. from here on up it was muddy until we hit the upper section of the south face...at this point around the camp sites, we ran into snow, which was only a few inches deep. given the state of the weather, foggy, snow, and wind, we stop at the boulder field just below the final ascent to the lookout tower. by the time we got back to the car around 4-4:30, the parking was pretty empty. being my first time on granite, i am looking forward to hitting it on a clear, sunny day in hopes of taking in the view!

It was July on Granite Mountain. It was easy to step around the few cow pies of snow on the trail before gaining the ridge that led towards the lookout. Even on the ridge the snow was spotty and only a few inches deep - the trail was bare more often that it had snow. On the steep ascent just beyond the pond and camp sites (some of which were snow free) there were some long snowy patches - the only part of the trail where post-holing was possible. I turned around at the bump just before the boulders (the pictures of the look-out and of the mountains to the north were taken from this bump). It looked like a snow-free boulder hop up to the look-out as long as one kept to the south. No bugs. No animals (someone's leftover crust from the day before had not been touched). Trail was in like-new shape (the one quibble is some run-off just past the Pratt Lake trail junction). I've been on Granite Mountain in July and seen more snow that what I saw today. One of the other 10 people on the mountain said that he had seen more snow lingering into August. There was more snow in the trailhead parking lot than on the trail. Weather was sunny - most of the ascent was shorts and T-shirt weather. I almost didn't go today because the DOT webcams at the pass showed thick fog - from Granite Mountain one could see the fog spilling down (and quickly dissiptaing) from the pass. In summary - it was like July but without any blowdowns and without the bugs and without the summertime haze.