Grindstone Mountain

Trip date: 5/3/2015
Roundtrip miles: 10
Elevation gain: 5200'
Elapsed time: 9 hours

We had nearly perfect weather for this scramble. Snow level was about 6500', and it was very soft up to the ridge/saddle at 7000'. From the saddle a few wore crampons, the rest microspikes. We dropped down 200' and traversed the icy snow very carefully, until reaching the summit. Coming back was easier, snow was a bit softer, but even softer on the east side. We had an excellent glissade, then lots of post holing on the way back to the rocks/trail at 6500'. Then cruised the trail back to the cars. Stream crossing was not so bad this time (my last trip in 2013 it was tricky)