Vamsi,
Not sure how close you are to the East Bay, but Mount Diablo offers some good trails both as a hiker and/or cyclist. Views are hit and miss depending on the weather. As far as gear is concerned I bought a set of Kahtoola microspikes earlier this year and I'm thinking about getting the Black Diamond ice axe on stock at my local REI (I think it retails for $79 -- it was on sale for $59 during the May/Memorial Day weekend sale). The microspikes will help keep you upright on a little bit of ice, but I wouldn't count on them on a steep incline covered with snow as on MtW's Chute. I used them the last quarter of a mile of San Jacinto peak (in Riverside Cty) three weeks ago and they helped some. I'm planning on taking them up the switchbacks on the 21st... there was some very thin ice on the switchbacks on my attempt last July (8th). I was so freaking tired after Trail Camp last year that my head was set on taking one more step and not whether I could slip on my butt... oh, that was ice?!? f**k...
I grew up in Puerto Rico where the total snowfall on the island since the last Ice Age is 0". Glissading?!? What is that?
BTW, I'm also taking some Okkie Goretex for the two fork crossings at thebeginning of MWMT.
Luis
PS. Eating above 12,000' was a challenge for me. I took lots of cycling food I use at sea level... YUK... I wanted to puke. I'm not planning on taking ANY Cliff Bars on a tour of Whitney this year... no trail mix either (braces)... I'm taking good European cheese, vanilla GU, Ginseng HoneyStingers, and home made salmon jerky. It will all be packed where I can get to it w/o taking off my backpack.
