One more thing came to mind: When I was up that time in August, I helped a couple descend the red banks area. That late, they had ascended withOUT crampons. The red banks are sloping, loose, more soil-like than rock, with little marble-sized rocks covering the not-too-steep slope.
Without the crampons, they were trying to walk on a slope of marbles. With crampons on, I literally held the lady's hand and walked her down through it.
