Was sick all last week and couldn't work out at all, then spent all weekend in meetings, so I didn't get on the trail until Sunday afternoon. Met a number of hikers coming out, the trail was in pretty lousy shape. One young woman in open-toed sandals was literally crawling out because she could not get traction with her leather-soled shoes. Although one does wonder how she got down as far as she did...

Note to group of young men: PLEASE do not stand at the trail head and scream at your friends at the top of your lungs OVER AND OVER AND OVER. If you must yell, once your compatriots have registered their recognition of your concern about their welfare or your gloating that you are out and they are not, SHUT UP.

At the top a woman asked how the trail was and I told her: sloppy, slippery, muddy, icy, and full of melted mule s**t. She asked, "Then is it still open?"

"It's open all year,unless there is a rock slide".

"Do you really need crampons?"

"I wouldn't go down without them on a bet".

I then advised her to wait until morning and let it freeze. However this morning it was in the 40's so I guess it never did freeze. Maybe it will evaporate?