Greetings all, John and Barbara here from Bakersfield. I thought I'd tell about our hike plans for next week. My second trip this year, been up a couple of times in prior years and on the MWT several times. Barbara has never been all the way so Lord willing this will be the time. We'll spent Wed. night Oct. 3 at the portals. Go to outpost camp for Thursday night. We are extreamly slow hikers, average about 1 mph, Barb has delicate knees, and we are in just above average condition. And we're old 57 & 63. Never been up this time of year so are probably taking too much warm gear.I pack 50+ lbs and Barb about 25. Leave Outpost Friday when the ice melts at stream crossing before Mirror lake, bout 7. then up the steps to trail camp. Outpost to the summit is just too much for us in one day,tried that. leave trail camp about 5 am Sat.(I'm already shivering) plan on 10 to 12 hour to the summit and back. Sat. night at trail camp and back down Sunday am. Don't expect much ice on the switchbacks if the weather continues as forecast. Don't have microspikes but probably would bring if I had them. have a good marmott tent, 20degree northface bags and am buying fleece liners today. wearing poly base layer, 2 mid fleece layers, wind/rain jacket and down coat.Fleece head covering, silk bottoms and pants. gloves. If you're up you'll pass us and we'll move over and say hi. God bless.