Nine hardy souls (John, Kathryn, Indie Jack, Dagmar, Maya, Tina, John, Tony and I) went up yesterday morning. Amazing amount of snow melt in just two weeks
Much less snow on Christmas tree hill but at least South Fork meadows wasn't as boggy. At the base of the climb we took a cookie break and donned crampons and ice-axes. We headed up one of the north chutes -- it was the route we descended two weeks ago.
Just as on the San Gorgonio ridge, the snow was very cupped, which made for slow going on the less steep sections
Towards the top the ridge, it became very icy -- I could barely drive in the tip of my axe 
It was a relief to gain the ridge and walk to the summit. The wind was blowing pretty good so we hunkered down in the rocks for lunch.
On the way down, we started down the west side of the chute we'd ascended -- it had more snow and wasn't as steep. Tried to glissade but the cupped snow made it more difficult and painful compared to two weeks ago. Regrouped at the cookie stop, then slid around on the cupped snow as we made our way back towards the crest of Christmas tree hill. Shortly before reaching the wilderness boundry sign, I took a fall on bark after hopping over a tree
Dagmar is a nurse practitioner and helped patch me up -- thanks Dagmar 
Enjoyed the gradual descent back to the trailhead -- nice to stretch out the hip flexors and calves after all that steep climbing.
Another great day and opportunity to hike with old friends and meet new ones.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
