Day Hike - Crystal Lakes & Sourdough Gap

The trip started at 7:30am with gray clouds and some light rain.   At about 5k' the rain turned to snow and snowed on us off and on the rest of the way to the lakes.  

We ran into patches of existing snow on the trail above 5200'  but it was never more than 30-40 yards  in length and only in 2-3 spots.  

At the upper lake we could see the trail above the lake was still covered by the winter snows and  getting to Sourdough Gap would require an ice axe to continue past the upper lake so this became our turnaround point.  As it was now becoming windy and snowing still,  we headed back to the lower lake and had an early lunch with the trees blocking most of the snow and wind.  

We were back at the cars by 12:30pm.  Total was 6.2 miles and 2,200' gain.