snow?

[lightgy]

I am planning on going to the tram Sunday. Does anyone have feedback on the upper trail conditions from Friday or Saturday? I don't plan on crampons. Just good legs and lungs.
Thanks,
Lightgy

[Norris]

Hi, there is only a tiny part of the upper Skyline trail that has a little bit of packed snow/ice on it, just below Long Valley, but you can easily avoid it / hike around it. If you are only going as far as the tram, you don't need crampons.
HOWEVER, if you plan to try for the summit, AND you plan to take the normal trail to Round Valley you WILL need crampons, as I found out today (I didn't bring them). All the tourists that wander part way up the trail to Round Valley (most of them off-route, looking for the scenic "loop" trail) have turned the trail into an ice-rink, starting where it crosses the creek. The old trail to Tamarack valley is fine, almost completely dry, because that side of the creek gets sun. I went as far as Tamarack valley, but no farther since I don't know how to find the old, abandoned trail that goes from somewhere near there to the summit ridge (or so I believe).