Had a successful traverse of west peak to the main peak. Last year there was a whole bunch of snow and I failed because I was simply not able to climb up the west ridge with the combination of my snowshoes and boots! This year, it's snow free - including the infamous avalanche chute below the main summit!
I marked the point where I left the trail on the map below. Simply head NE and do a little bushwhacking work you will enter the talus field and have the ridge and the west summit in your sight. Follow the right side of the ridge to the west summit. Then you will have to descent to a saddle between the two summits first. There was a lot of snow on the leeward side as well as on the top. Watch for the ice in the woods! I slipped here the wounded my palm! Stick to the right of the ridge to avoid the small hill in the middle of saddle then welcome the final elevation gain! The lookout was locked and it was a little chilly up there. I dried my socks and shoes for a while then descended from the winter snowshoeing route which I shouldn't because there was no snow at all! (Sorry about that but my legs stayed sore for days as a punishment I believe. It was STEEP!)
I met an old couple on the Pratt Lake trail, another on the main summit, several others coming up on the summer trail, no one was seen in the west area. 3:30' from trailhead to main summit (treated my wound and had a rest for about 40 minutes near west summit), 1:37' from main summit back to trailhead. Had a wonderful make-up trip.
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