Let's explore further.

First: It's long. Eight miles in total and most of that on the Annette Lake trail. It's a fine trail and all that, but it just goes and goes and goes.

Second: Where are we going? Just before the lake we're supposed to turn up the hill, fight through the brush, and emerge onto glorious slopes of easy-to-kick-steps-in snow.

Third: When there's no snow it's a stinking pile of loose rock.

Fourth: There's no snow in July.

Fifth: Bugs.

Sixth: When you finally gain the ridge you need to traverse through some sketchy terrain to the real summit.

Seventh: We were so slow we stopped at the ridge.

Eighth: The other side of the ridge still had snow and a very attractive bench.

Ninth: Did you really think we weren't going to have to go back down?

Tenth: Remember how I said it was long? Now do it in the dark when you're tired.

Ok, ok. 10 negative aspects. How about the positives?

First: The trail along the creek has some beautiful spots and it's very refreshing.

Second: The trail is so long it can't be steep.

Third: Bunchberry under the power lines. (Hmm... maybe power lines should be in the other list.)

Fourth: No crowds. Well, at least not after you've left the maintained trail.

Fifth: Blue skies. Not kind of blue, perfect blue.

Sixth: Lilies. Thousands of lilies.

Seventh: Views in every direction.

Eighth: The glissade! Oh, wait, no snow means no glissade. At least not a glissade you want to do.

So I guess when you do the math it's actually only a negative three. Maybe we'll do it earlier next year. If it were covered in snow it'd be a positive two. (Do you hear me TNAB? E-A-R-L-I-E-R.

Just sayin'.