Rock Mountain via Rock Lake — Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019

Given the steep ascent for the first couple of miles, starting with temperatures well below freezing was an asset. Anyway, the trail was fine until the 5,000' elevation after which it was snow covered up to a couple feet and spikes were dearly appreciated. For the most part the snow was firm enough to hold our weight, but on some of the steeper slopes it varied between soft enough to post hole and almost ice (i.e. hard to kick a foot hold). Rock Lake is frozen over.