Hiked with motivated child. Started from trailhead at 5:15 am, got to summit at 9:30, having not seen anyone but campers. Stayed at summit for 45 minutes, returned to car by 1:45 pm, saw lots of people on the way down.
Trail was snow free until about 4400 feet in the flat section between Mason and the eastern slope of Defiance. We put on microspikes and then did about 450 feet straight up hill in deep snow, and took them off again. Other people coming up as we made our way down had done it without microspikes (or their dignity intact, to hear them tell it). Snow at the summit but not enough to need to put the spikes back on.
No wildflowers or pikas yet this past weekend. On to Granite Mtn Lookout this coming weekend.
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