I hiked 11/22. Started at 9am after camping at the trail head and getting a very late start. Snow and ice starting 1 mile in. Nothing you couldn't handle without poles but it was definitely slippery in areas with no sun and people were wearing microspikes. There was a decent amount of ice early in the day on the logs during the first river crossing that actually caused me slip and fall into the knee-deep water, and it took me an hour to dry off (bring extra socks!!!) but by the evening the ice had mostly melted and it was far easier to cross going back (I debated wearing crampons going back but it seems unnecessary). By the first camp there was a decent amount of snow, maybe knee high. I then snapped lots of pictures in this area and turned back. It took me 9am - 130pm going up, with an hour to dry off plus time to eat and take pictures on the way up, and 2-330pm to get back after 30 minutes of pictures and walking around the first camp area.
Two notes: -One or two switchbacks were being cut so I tried to create the proper trail -Once you get near the first camp, stay to the left. There is a false path going across the stream through the meadow. This made me waste some time so although that path may eventually go where you want it to, it's not fun.
