We succumbed to our nervous energy and went a day early.
Sitting at the portal store waiting for our burgers.
My 14 year old son and I made the summit leaving at 2:00 am, 9:15 at the top and portal at 4:15. Extremely proud of him!!
The chute was firm and pretty well booted and we left the crampons in the pack and went (actually all the way from trail camp to the summit) in our micro spikes. We used an ice axe up and down the chute.
It did get pretty soft as we were coming down around noon and we down climbed the very top (I actually had to self arrest once) before a combo of plunge stepping and glissading.
Fantastic day!! Thanks for all the info here and good luck to all those heading up.
Few edits: I'd say spikes are for you if you have experience with an ice axe.
I saw some booting up the switchbacks but the going was very slow and looked no safer (maybe less?) than the chute
The backside has melted a lot from the Pictures of last week. Many were coming up from the PCT with micro spikes and poles and doing fine.
