TrailDan

As far as "Standard Routes" go, I'd recommend climbing the Emmons-Winthrop Route rather than the Dissapointment Cleaver Route, especially this time of year and especially if it's your first time on the mountain. Although I've never climbed on the DC, the nature of the route is such that rockfall danger is a real concern and something that is avoided by a combination of speed and luck. The Emmons requires physical fitness and good routefinding ability due to the myriad crevasses on the route, but rockfall on route is a non-issue. The other issue on the DC is that most of the guiding that happens on the mountain is done on the DC, which means pushy guides bullying private parties out of their way to better serve clients. I've only been on the E-W route once and I wouldn't feel comfortable without a team I knew and trusted, especially since the days are getting shorter, but I thought I'd throw in my $.02.