Nine of us (Tim, Steve, Don, John, Tyler, Jose, Dave, Brian, and myself) had a great hike to Lonesome Lake. The weather was perfect - sunny and warm and cloud free most of the time. Only Don and myself had hiked to the hut before and the rest of the group it was their first time. The hike started out great the trail free of snow, but once we got close to the first switchback we started encountering hard pack snow on the trail that increased as we got up in elevation. No traction devices were needed. But Don and I were wearing minimal footwear (me Vibram Five finger hikers and Don huarache sandals). When we got to the lake it was frozen over but a sign stated “thin cover do not attempt to cross” and we encountered snow the whole way around the lake. We had to be careful when hiking to stay on the hard pack part of risk falling up to you knees in snow.  Which of course I did a few times, this hike wouldn’t be a hike if I didn’t at least once when snow was on the trail, fall in it.  We spent an hour or so relaxing having lunch at the hut and taking in the amazing scenery of the Cannon Mt to the north and northern Franconia Ridge off to the east. The trip down in the snow was taken slowly by Don and me due to our footwear and incident free.  When we all got back to our cars everyone in the group headed to the Woodstock station for food and beverages. I want to thank everyone that joined me and Don on the hike for making it a very nice day.