We started yesterday morning at 4:45 AM, made it to the top just before 10 AM. It was a beautiful day, but very windy on the way up (we were not expecting wind as per the weather forecast!) The wind was a nice break from the summer heat, but at times we had to stop moving because it was so intense. However, it was completely gone by the time we reached the top.
We took the trail during the midsection, while many others climbed in the snow the whole way up. We got about 4 miles in without hiking in snow. Not sure which way is better, I think personal preference.
We used microspikes and poles on the way up, ice ax and microspikes on the way down glissading. The snow is soft and slushy until after passing the false summit, from there it is much easier to step in the footholes already there. We felt fine in spikes, but many had crampons (REI was sold out for rentals, that was our first choice).
Must haves- SPF (we used 100 and I didn't sunscreen my ears and they got fried), poles and ice ax, spikes at the very least, sunglasses are a must.
It was a great day, with the glissading we were able to make it down in under 3 hours. We should have continued glissading into the canyon, but we weren't sure where it let out, so we took the rocks down. Mistake!! Bring trash bags to slide down. Check out the glissading paths on the way up, some are a little sketchy, most are totally fun and fine!
It got VERY hot towards the end, we arrived back at the car at 2:30 PM after spending about an hour at the top soaking in the experience.
Saw five different poles left on the mountain from glissading, be sure to fasten all of your gear to your packs tightly so they don't fall off when sliding.
We wish we would have started at 4 AM instead of 4:45. Only about 4 groups were ahead of us, however.
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