Re: Update on high Country trail conditions

I dayhiked from Cathedral Lakes trailhead to Happy Isles and then returned the next day. There was abundant snow for 2 miles before Upper Cathedral Lakes and for about 1.5 miles thereafter. You won't need microspikes, but you are going to have to detour around snow in many places, which is tedious. There was a crew with mules which sawed through all the downed trees up until Sunrise (and there were at least 15 downed trees on the trail). No snow whatsoever past Sunrise till the Valley floor. Clear sailing.

The snow on the Clouds Rest trail from Sunrise trailhead is similar to what is on Cathedral Lakes but only in sections where there is little sun. Granite portion to summit totally clear, as is the approach from the fork 2.5 miles below.

Thanks for the update. I plan to be around there in a few days.

How tall is the snow? Any pictures? I'm going with some rookies in 3 weeks, do you think this will pose any threat for new hikers?

3 weeks? You'll be fine. That's a lot of time.