Question for Tahoe locals: Best route up Tallac right now?

So it started snowing again this week and thought it would be good to get up Mt. Tallac before I head back to Utah. Tried to find a trailhead down Spring Creek Rd an found out that the gate is not always open (as in it was open and unlocked when I drove in and locked when I tried to leave). Have read a little bit about other starting points and its either a long approach or a gamble for the shorter approaches whether or not they have enough snow to cover the brush. Can anyone from the Tahoe area give some good beta on where to start from/best route up?

thanks