During our trip in May 2007, we decided snowshoes were 4 lbs. we could do without.
The reasoning was the trail gets so much use during the winter to Trail Camp that even if there was some depth to it, it would be compacted, which was the case.
If it's a day hike, carrying snowshoes in one more nail in the coffin of early season hopes and dreams. It's a couple of miles shorter to the summit during the spring because you go up the chute. However, these 20 miles are not the same as the 22 miles later in the quota season because of the climb to Trail Crest and the ice and snow on the west side. A lot of things have to go right for a day hike to be successful before the trail is completely open.
As a friend says...it's not the miles, it's the kind of miles.
