The trail is clear the first mile or two, with snow beginning before Lone Pine Lake. If you start early and it is cold, the snow is solid and easy walking.
Microspikes work well up to Trail Camp, and crampons and ice axe are best above that point. Until the switchbacks open up, the slope to the west of the switchbacks is easier to climb.
The post includes this regarding someone trying to glissade without an ice axe for braking:
Quote:
On Saturday there was a young man who made it to the summit by way of the snow draw, which is recommended , however he did not have a helmet or ice axe. He thought it a good idea, when descending the draw to glissade. Half way down he lost control and started to cart wheel, for over 500' and there was NO way for him to self arrest, and he ended up in the boulder field below, leaving a giant laceration on his head, lucky is an understatement that he was not seriously injured or even killed. It resulted in him having to be taken out by search and rescue, who did an amazing job to reach him, leaving the portal at 9 pm Saturday night and working all night to rescue him.
Glissading is sitting and sliding on your butt. There are techniques for braking and controlling your speed using an ice axe. Without that is suicidal. And glissading while wearing crampons is a good invitation for a broken leg.
