A review in AllTrails indicated the initial part of the hike was “moderate” up to Granite Lake. We did NOT agree! While it’s true that the second part was even steeper (!) the beginning was steep right from the start. Winding through shady forests, the climb was beautiful. We could see the sparkling blue water of Lake Tahoe through the trees as we ascended. We skirted Granite Lake (saving it for the return) and continued upward. This is where both spikes and poles were an imperative. The snow coverage was roughly 90% so going up the nearly vertical terrain was challenging. If you ski, it was as steep as a double-black diamond, if not more! Some in our group had micro spikes and did fine while others had more aggressive spikes. I was thrilled with mine since it was my first time using them. Navigating the final ascent to the peak was tricky. We kept our eye on the AllTrails dot and the peak while moving slowly up. The views at the peak were even more spectacular than those along the way. Worth the slow trek up (and down)! Down was made easier if you could follow others’ footprints (footholds) to prevent sliding. All worth it!