Does anyone know the latest conditions on the snow/ice ramp to approach the north chimney? Is it possible to kick in steps or should we plan on crampons/micro-spikes?
Not sure how much it helps, but I was on Lamb's Slide on Saturday. Snow was solid, though not truly icy. With a single kick I could get a small "step" enough for the front points and the ball of my foot. In most spots multiple kicks didn't seem to get me much more. I was at the base of Lamb's Slide right at sun up.
Last Thursday, there were good steps kicked leading into the N. Chimney. Though I found lightweight crampons helpful for the approach, it can certainly be done w/o if you're comfortable on a moderate snow slope w/ sticky dot rubber. The snow was soft on the surface inches, but icy below, you wouldn't be able to modify steps too much with soft approach shoes.
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