Just got back to LA and settled in after a successful Whitney summit earlier this morning. In regards to trail conditions, my party and I all summited in trail runners/tennis shoes [u]with[/u] trekking poles, but without microspikes. We found the snow on the switch backs was sufficiently compacted, but it certinaly had some slick spots. We left Trail Camp around 630AM and reach summit at 11ish. On our way back, we found that the snow/ice on the section of the trail from Trail Crest to the summit (along the east face of Whitney/Mt. Muir) was getting messy and it took a little extra attention to negotiate. We also decided to put microspikes on for our descent of the 97 switchbacks, and they helped immensely. With them, we made great time down the switchbacks. That's it for any "technical" info.
I'll try and write a more thorough report tomorrow but, all in all, I'd say that ice-axes surely aren't need along the Main Trail at this point (who knows what future conditions will bring), that trekking poles are a must, that microspikes could be very useful, and that snowy trail/traverse experience is particularly helpful.
