There's only a bit of snow on the trail, and that was seemed to be mostly from a recent snowfall. Places that normally have enormous piles of snow at this time of year are completely free of snow. Trilliums (trillia') are out in abundance, as are yellow violets and bleeding hearts. Many trees and shrubs have barely started setting out leaves along this trail. Very few people on this trail today.

Hiked as far as just short of Windy Point and the trail has 1-6 inches of snow on it, depending on terrain and tree cover. Still easily hikeable, although will be getting really muddy soon. No obstacles. No sign of avalanche debris.

Road is open to the Martin Creek Trailhead, with some snow remaining in one parking area and one spot on the road, drivable by passenger cars. The ranger's report, dated 032301, stated there was 6-8 inches of snow there. Not! There is patchy thin snow before the upper and lower grades split, but even with this early evidence of snow there was absolutely no avalanche piles or debris to skirt around or over as in prior years. Obviously, this snow was pretty recent. The skunk cabbage is just poking its head above ground, but the trail is essentially matted leaves with some small blowdowns, easily stepped over. There are patches of unconsolidated snow, so we did break through up to our knees for a step or two in a couple of the snow patches. I'm glad I wore low gaiters, but my boots did get wet around the bottom edges. We went as far as Windy Point, but the point lived up to its name and the weather was changing. Go in a few weeks for the flowers, go now for the solitude. The trail is easily hiked and we saw no one all day, except one person starting up the Martin Creek crossover as we descended.

On our way east to find the sun (partially successful), DAR and I checked out the upper trailhead. Please note the road off the old Stevens Pass Highway is gated and closed for the summer while work continues! Parking at the gate, we hiked down the gravel road. The trail is great, crossing a nice bridge just before entering the old snowshed. At the far end, the hanging tatters of the roof (cement and rebar, plus trees) almost look like an elephant waiting to greet you. Behind this point were flowers, flowers and more flowers. Woolly Mullein was the unfamilier one we had to identify later. We picked out the lunch spot on the old road from our February cross country ski trip on our way to the junction with the ""old"" work party access trail. After a nice talk with the ranger, and lunch in the sun we headed back. The hardest part of the hike is hiking back up the road to the gate.

Lots of violets (in two colors) and bleeding hearts line the trail, with the last of the trillium and a nice patch of calypso orchids. Trail is snowfree except for two ""humps"" of snow in one of the avalanche chutes, all the way to Windy Point. Despite our late start, DAR and I saw few other parties. After lunch, I wandered further up the trail to marker 1713. At this point I was in continuous snow, consolidated and easily traveled. I removed some windfall. I would normally expect to break out of the snow some little ways further, but the soft splat of raindrops made me turn back to my napping friend. Sure enough, he was awake and wondering where I'd disappeared to. Weather wasn't bad at all, but sure not what was forecast.