We started at the gardens about 630 and the not was about 2/3 full when though the sign at the entrance said it was full. Photos trail into JBL was super highway. Well packed and ready to follow. Crossing over at JBL to ore bed, and ore bed itself to the peak was reasonably packed, a few soft spots, but overall cannot complain at all. The steep sections were not horrible to get up, everything was rather well consolidated, although the trail did go in and out of the trees on the slide section.

We discovered that the route that was packed out missed the proper intersection with the range trail by a bit. On our way out some of us went over to find it. But it doesn't look like anyone has gone up gothics from here for a while. The steep section after meeting up with the range trail was not well remembered by a few of us as being that steep, but all the difficult stuff is easily feet below snow. Unfortunately for us, what looked like a clearing sky when we were at JBL turned into a clouded in peak when we got to the top. Oh well.

On the way out we took the slightly (0.2 mi) shorter route of Southside trail to the DEC outpost. This looked to be mostly touched by skiers, and the trail was soft but doable. We turned off at the bridge, but it looked like skiers had continued down the whole thing to where it leaves the Phelps trail at 0.5 from the parking lot.

I did notice that a couple had walked in with only microspikes likely from Smith way. They didn't do much damage to the Phelps trail, but the Southside trail at the junction near the parking lot looked like they tore it up, so be careful if you go that way. Please, we're over 8 inches of snow everywhere, flotation is legally required in the high peaks... Ski or snowshoe. You may think you're doing fine with just spikes, but you're making it more difficult and more dangerous for the next person down the trail.

It was a long day, but it was a good day.  It was interesting hiking in these conditions as the light was rather flat and even though the trench was well defined, it was not easy to see because of how the light was just not casting any shadows.  I think that this is definitely a hike that is improved by winter conditions.  All the obstacles you face in summer are covered up.  You still have to go up the slide, but at least you have heel lifts to help you up, and butt slides to help you down.

This makes 38/46 for me.  The hike was 13.26 miles of just under 10 hours.  Year to date, I've hiked 82 miles and 4.3 miles of elevation over 64 hours.  Not a bad start to the year.