Thanks for the great trip report 805! I'm going to be in town next week. I have no illusions of attempting the summit this time of year, but with multiple summits in prior years and quite a bit of general Sierra backcountry experience, I was at least thinking about making a run at Lone Pine Lake or something. Now I'm not so sure.
How crazy is that stretch from the Portal up to LPL? Is that first couple miles or so full crampon/ice axe territory like the rest of the trail you described? Any other advice for that section if we decide to give it a go? Would love to tackle it, but I'm also wise enough to solicit the advice of my betters.
