Headed up the South Fork trail yesterday with Sally, Cindy and John. It was very cold at the start -- about 20 degrees
There was a very nice boot track all the way to Southfork meadows. We wore microspikes for security on icy sections and carried crampons, ice-axes, and helmets. We should have had snowshoes as well, but the bloody blonde didn't want to carry snowshoes in addition to everything else. Ha, ha. Note to self -- buy a bigger pack 
We left the trail where it crosses the stream (before switchbacking up the ridge) and went cross country up Christmas tree hill. We were sinking up to our knees, or more, in powdery snow. Unfortunately, we were not far enough to the left and hit the darn moraine field dead center. The up and downs through glacial chop country made for very slow going. At times we sank up to our waists, got mired in brush or dropped between snow covered rocks.
We finally worked our way over the ridge that has a plateau at the base of the north chutes. It felt good to at least be post holing UPHILL instead of going up and down gullies laced with rocks and brush. After 5 + hours of this, we stopped for lunch on the plateau (~9.7 K), looking longingly at the snow on the north chutes. Even with snowshoes, climbing would have been sketchy as there was not enough snow at the top of the chutes
At least we had great views from our lunch spot.
We had no desire to retrace our steps and headed cross country down the ridge. Our goal was to reach the trail to Dry Lake. We were sinking up to my waist coming off the ridge. Before long, we reached the snow-covered trail (as least it wasn't knee deep) and started making better time. Dry Lake was partly frozen and covered with snow. From Dry Lake on, the trail was broken in. When we got to Christmas tree hill, we left the trail and crossed over to the winter route. Once back at Southfork meadows, the time flew by. Met Mason from Redlands, who had hoped to reach Dollar Lake but ran out of time and talked about the different hiking forums and routes in the mountains. Fortunnately, it only took 3 hours to get back to the trail head. Sally and I enjoyed a great cheeseburger at the Oaks before heading home.
Bottom line, the snow is very powdery and it needs to consolidate. Also, there's not enough to enjoy good winter cross country travel and climbing.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
Ellen's TR says it like it was. Call me crazy but I thought this was a lot of fun. 
