Ptarmigan traverse in sept. beta

[Adam__S]

any advice/recommendations/recent beta for attempting the ptarmigan traverse in the next few weeks? I read snafflehounder's recent TR, including the vague "impassible" report from the ranger. Anyone know what's supposedly impassible, and if it's really that bad?

 

thanks...

[Alex]

Just go do it. The LeConte Gl is only about a day and a half out. So if its "impassible" (I find that hard to believe), just backtrack. You wont take any more time coming back than completing the traverse, and the country you travel in is real nice anyway.

[Lowell_Skoog]

I looked at portions of the traverse through binoculars from Black Peak yesterday. I can't say whether anything is impassible, but I recommend being prepared for icy conditions on all the glaciers. The Dana Glacier below Spire Point has almost no snow left on it! The Le Conte glacier is likely to be the crux. Bring steel crampons and a few ice screws.

[kThurner]

As a side note, if you find the LeConte truly impassable, there is a route around the west side of LeConte Mtn down to South Cascade Lk, then you'd simply walk up the South Cascade Glacier.