We parked alongside the #1199 access almost across from the Buck Creek entrance with 1 other car at 12:30. It was 41 degrees and rain was imminent. I wore a raincoat and shorts with gaiters and my feet stayed dry and I was never too cold, intermittently using gloves and a stocking cap. 2 trees down on The White River Trail just after the access point.
Trail is snow free and dry to 0.25 miles beyond the viewpoint. Increasing coverage 1-2 inches and slushy over the next 0.75 miles. 3.3 miles from trailhead snow depth triples but it's less slippery. At this point you will be feeling any wind coming over the ridge and today that was cold. The rain started coming down as we entered the opened up area just ahead of the major burned out area. Turned around here and headed back really without much slipping despite no traction and just poles. I saw Yaktrak imprints in the snow from the couple we passed on the way up. The must have turned back somewhere around here as well. Felt good to get off the snow so we ran down. It was getting dark and it wasn't even 4 yet. Took the White River Trail across Ranger Creek just to see. Got back to the car at 3:30 just ahead of the heavy rain. We saw 3 people total today.
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