I saw a video someone posted from their hike via the Baldy Bowl today, and he used crampons and carried an ice axe. There have been SO many injuries and accidents this year, nobody should be hiking the snow covered peaks without crampons and ice axe, and some knowledge how to self-arrest.
People using microspikes find they can climb ok, but when they turn to head down, they have lots of trouble. Get yourself a quality set of crampons. They are expensive, but once you have them, they will last you for many years.
Take them EVERY time you go for a snow hike. I made the mistake of trying to hike the mist trail this winter in Yosemite -- without my crampons! What was a very dangerous descent could have been a cake walk with crampons.
