thank you for asking that.
yes, it was a BIG error in judgement. My 'confidence' was based on my 'endurance' on such terrain and the fact I had done it relatively 'easily' in 2014, that's all.
It was further strengthened by the reports I read which in my interpretation made is look very doable, even for rookies on ice.
Finally, I thought (ex-post I know mistakenly) that having read and watched videos on basic ice-skills would be enough. I think it would be in most cases but here we have the 'chute'. The climb becomes highly challenging with the 'chute' and the corresponding incline, which I did NOT realize till, in my view, it was too late.
If someone had told me, what I know NOW, I would never ever go, period. If anything, I am waiting for the switchbacks to open up, so that I can 're-write' my memory of Mt. Whitney!
