We started a bit before 7 without any trouble. Snow drifts would prevent cars from going all the way up the road to the Rainbow Trail, but otherwise the road and the on trail portion was pretty bare. There was a packed down track a good ways up the lower ridge, but ends well below treeline. Throughout the hike there was occasional post-holing, especially right before treeline, but nothing bad enough to require flotation. Once above the trees, snow could be easily avoided, but the winds were...well doing what wind does best. We got to right up to the flat ridge-13,100, before a white out turned us around.
Also a Public Service Announcement: Whenever wearing gloves/mittens, make sure the strap that goes around the wrist is actually tightened, not just on. When I took off one of my hiking poles, it took the mitten off and blew within two feet of dropping the north face before sticking on a rock.
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