Winter Scramble - Ira Spring Memorial Trail (Mason Lake)

We had planned to climb Sasse Mt, near Lake Cle Elum. When we met in Issaquah at 6:00, WSDOT said that the pass was open, chains required or AWD. By the time we got to North Bend, the signs were saying I-90 closed at exit 47. So, we had a quick conference and decided to head to exit 47 and climb Humpback instead. We got to within a mile of exit 47 and traffic came to a complete standstill. We walked up the road to discover that WSDOT was stopping all traffic about quarter mile before exit 47. They wouldn't let us go to exit 47. Said the road would be closed at least another hour and a half. We walked back to our cars and after a quick conference decided to just drive across the median strip and head down to exit 42, where we parked and hiked up Mason Creek to Mason Lake. Had the mountainside all to ourselves. Snowed all day. Delightful.