yes, we don't really seem to experience the seasons here in santa barbara
. So just to be clear, if the switchbacks are covered in too much snow, the only way up is the chute, which means the only way back is to glissade down?
We don't get any snow at 1,600' south of the Traverse Ranges, either. However, I seem to go out every weekend with folks that travel upwards 300 miles RT to get ice axe and crampon experience. I have personally traveled in excess of 300 miles one way to take a basic snow skills course and had a few years of experience with ice axe and crampons before attempting the chute...which wasn't difficult. I found the pucker moment at the slanted ice on Mt. Whitney. If you screwed up there, there are some tarns at 11,700' you'd be visiting rather quickly.
If the trail is blocked at the cables, the only way up if you are using the MMWT as your route is the chute. This also means you have to come down the same chute but it does not mean you have to glissade the chute. Conditions may prevent a safe glissade. That is something you have to determine on your hike day.
