In a spur of the moment decision, I took a chance on the conditions and went up to Naturalist Basin for the night last night. Had the whole basin to myself! I posted some of this info the help another member with their trip planning, but I'll repeat some of it here...
The trail from Highline Trailhead to the final turn-off from the Highline trail that leads up to Naturalist basin is pretty good save a number of small stretches where it does get a bit wet and muddy, but there are plenty of rocks to step across and keep the bulk of your shoes dry. There are well over a dozen tree falls across the trail. A few were low enough to just step up and over. Most, however, required a good detour off trail to get around. Mosquitos were not a problem at all for me. I had repellant and a head net ready to go but never took either out.
Once you start nearing the basin though, the trail really starts to get bad, going well under water many times before you start post-holing through snow in places. The upper benches of the basin still have significant snow drifts across it and just about all of the lakes are still mostly frozen over. Only one of the Morat lakes was relatively free of any ice. Faxon was next closest to be fully thawed out. I predict it will take at least another week or two of continued warm and sunny weather to melt out most of the snow still up there, and perhaps even another week or two for much of the water covering so many sections of the trail to clear out and dry up.
I also went up to the ridge above the basin to have a peak over into Middle Basin. There's lots of snow left in the upper edges of Middle Basin with all of its lakes appearing to be mostly frozen over.
Here are a few pics...
Trail between Highline junction and Naturalist Basin
Right fork of the trail leading to Jordan Lake goes well under the creek, requiring a significant river forward.
Naturalist Basin from the ridge. Lots of snow still left across upper bench.
Looking down off ridge into Middle Basin. Aggasiz on left, Hayden Peak to the right.
LeConte and Jordan Lakes still frozen.
Jordan Close-up.
While I had Naturalist all to myself, there were a few couples doing Four Lakes Basin this week.
Stay tuned for a full TR in the next week or two.