I only went about half way up the final 400, above the notch, so take this for what it's worth. And, conditions will have changed already.
But that said...
It's mostly rock from 150' or so below the notch, so you can leave the snow picket. And above the Notch there are plenty of bare, dry cracks that can be used for gear placement. You'd only need a light alpine rack to protect it well. It's only Class 3, but....
The first move to get onto the "final 400 feet" is on a corner. The move requires you to turn left around the corner. The ground right in front of that corner is slick, compacted snow, almost ice, and leads down a slope to a cliff. Definitely no-fall territory. The first move from that spot is Class 4; you have to sort of hug a tiny, icy arete and drag your way up it, and I recommend taking your gloves off to make it. The ice is thin, and the obvious footholds are filled with crunchy snow. It isn't that hard a move; if it wasn't above a potential cliff fall you wouldn't think twice about it, but the cliff makes you think. I had crampons on and it was easy enough.
Above that first move there are a series of steps, each about two to four feet high that are exactly Class 3. Like the Mid Palisade chute; pretty easy with no serious exposure. Some snow, not much ice, honestly. Wasn't bad.
Above those steps there is a 4th Class route to the left (I didn't get close enough to get good eyes on it) and a Class 3 route to the right.
Check out this website for an excellent set of pictures of the route:
Mountaineers Route The Class 3 route to the right is now covered entirely in steep snow; a party above me had roped up and the leader went up with two ice axes. I've seen youtube videos of guys doing it with axe and trekking pole, which is how I was outfitted. But my partner wasn't feeling it after he slipped on that first move, so we decided to head back instead of splitting the party up.
All that said, the final 400 is definitely protectable with a light alpine rack and a 30m rope. If you've got some alpine experience you might not even feel that it's necessary. But since conditions aren't knowable until you're there, I'd take a rack. Most importantly for rapping if it comes to that. I was able to get down the steps by sitting on my butt and pushing off each step, then down-climbing the last move with my crampons on. But next time I'm definitely taking a rope.
The traverse is absolutely not an option right now unless you've got some ice climbing experience. You'd have to traverse across hard, white ice on a cliff-side. Definitely the hard way to go. Also, the picture at the link which shows the traverse route was taken from very far away, and the depth of focus hides just how far the traverse takes you. It's hundred meters or more.
