I hiked the standard route via Redcloud to Sunshine but exited the NW Slopes. Road is completely snow free to silver creek trailhead and seeing some traffic for sightseers. Still plenty of snow up there but I didn't find a real need for my snowshoes. The bottom half of South Fork Creek it was helpful, but the stetches of soft snow were pretty few and far between at noon when I was descending. There was plenty of slide activity in the South Fork area and a number of large cornices ready to fall. I would think a ski descent would have been fun as well. Just be safe! The standard route up Redcloud has firm snow all the way up to the 13,000 ft saddle. The connecting ridge has snow that can be avoided until the last push at 13,500 near the gnarly rocks.
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