SummitPost.org

"Bryane" just posted a trip report over in the backpacker.com forum, here are a few highlights germane to the Beaten Path:

"Snow levels became prominent near Ouzel Lake."
"all lakes from that point on were completely under ice."
"At Bald Knob Lake the trail disappeared under massive snowpack."
"Making our way up past Skull Lake, we had to cross some snow bridges above the raging creeks."
"had to rely on the topo map and snow bridges to get over towards the summit to get to Fossil Lake."
"Fossil Lake is completely ice covered"
"The trail was really spotty near the creek crossing to take us over to Dewey Lake. We noticed that the footbridge there had been washed out as well."

Just so you know! Have a great trip.

Good Luck, please report back what you find. My trip has been pushed back into the first/second week of August....

Photos from the Beaten Path from this last weekend! 7/22 - 7/24
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150715857105251.706331.781690250&l=9575577189&type=1

2012 Update:

Did a quick trip from East Rosebud Fri/Sat just to check things out and have an easy weekend. Went in to the west side of Rainbow Lake, where the mosquitoes were in full force. They didn't seem nearly as bad just down at Rimrock Lake, but it was a bit more breezy there.

Spoke to a USFS trail ranger/maint. who said the trail is clear of snow to Dewey Lake, but heavy snow and drifts above there. Not too surprising, but should be much better than last year's epic snow conditions into August. She had cleared all deadfall and a lot of loose rock up to Dewey.

We did meet at least two parties who claimed they were going out for about a week, so I can only assume they were headed over the top. Some folks are going to it already, I guess.