Distance (RT): 8.38mi/13.5km
Gain: 4040ft/1231m
Moving Time: 6hr
Total Time: 8hr35min

Gear (used): Semi-rigid mountaineering boots, poles, microspikes, gaiters
Gear (unused): ice axe, snow shoes
Gear (should have brought): N/A

Clear day on to Vesper Peak. Thank you to gobozov from the previous TR that had cleared the fallen tree. One other car parked as arrived at the trailhead. Water crossings required moderate care but otherwise benign. Trail continued uneventful. Did not put on microspikes until just below the start of the final climb up to Headlee's Pass.

A pair of hikers were camped at the pass, but they had not attempted to go beyond. Thus required to break trail from that point onward. Snow was ~4" deep and only worsened to ~6" by time of reaching the summit - and at no point required snow shoes.

Gusts picked up fairly heavily at the summit, but fortunately the clear skies remained as did the brilliant views. Downclimb and return trip was uneventful.

Vesper hike turned into little adventure today.
Big fallen tree was blocking the forest road right after the turn from MLH, luckily I had small hatchet in the car, after 15 mins of work we could separate the trunk pieces and move them out. 
River crossing was another crux, I've never seen so much water in it. We had to go upstream pretty far to the point where river merges from two smaller rivers and we crossed each of them separately. Was able to keep my feet dry.
Navigation in the whiteout was kinda difficult, my gps watch stuck for some reason I couldn't always follow the proper trail, which was unnecessary considering amount of snow. Could not see anything from the summit.

It's winter up there, knee/waist deep snow after the lake, bring snowshoes, poles and gaiters. We decided to leave snowshoes in the car and did regret.

Beautiful day to get up there! I started at about 730am. Icy conditions started around Headlee Pass where I threw on my microspikes. There was a bootpack from one person who had been there likely the day prior, but had stopped short of the final push to the summit. I used my gps to stay close to the AllTrails route. On the way up the firm snow felt ok, only a few minor postholes. By the time I went down it was much softer and hikers going up were having a tougher time with punching through. I’d recommend microspikes and poles right now, though conditions can change quickly this time of year. Be careful through the boulders to the top as there’s just enough snow coverage to fill the gaps, but not always enough to bear weight.

Snow has arrived up high, but six inches to a foot of snow up top couldn’t snap us out of our “late summer” denial period so we slapped some microspikes onto the trail runners and headed up! It was cold in the valley, car said 30° at the trailhead and anything in the shade was either frosty or icy, making the rock fields a little challenging. Some spots melted throughout the day, others didn’t. Snow on top was manageable albeit a little slidey, making for a fun descent. There’s a well trodden path in the snow that’s easy to follow. When more snow falls or when in doubt, just head up. Road had a few shallow potholes and a rough rutted section near the trailhead.

First time on this trail, though it’s been on my list for a while! We made it up to Lake Elan and decided to turn back from there since the weather was dicey—fog coming and going, super cold, and it even started raining on us.

I had a GPX track that we checked a few times, but I also trusted my gut for navigation. Always good to double check, especially in the boulder field! Headlee Pass was easy enough to find once we got back on “trail”. Nothing too crazy.

Headlee Pass was stunning, and Lake Elan was gorgeous. This area reminds me so much of the Sierra Nevada, beautiful granite everywhere! I’ll definitely be back to summit Vesper.