Originally Posted By: KevinR
In the interests of accuracy - it's not a chute. Rather, it's a rather broad snowfield, especially at this time of year. It's at least a hundred yards wide - that's not a chute. It can be icy in places, especially early/late in the day, when the sun isn't on it.

Having said that - I would agree with what others have said re: crampons and ice axe.

Note (edit) - whether an axe or crampons are more important is a personal matter. For me, crampons are far more important. Much better to prevent a slip/fall before it occurs, rather with the fall itself. Knowing how to use an ice axe by NO means guarantees that you will be able to stop.

Here's a pic Tracie posted on the WPSBB:



Technically accurate. But. There is one important feature here that may be good reason to continue to refer to it as the Chute. It acts like one. See those rocks down the center of it? That's a raised moraine in the otherwise low contour of the field. Both sides of the field are pitched toward it (presumably why the moraine is there) just steeply enough that an uncontrolled fall, slide or glissade from the top on either side -- even from the far edges -- will end up there.

Far deadlier, as I recall, than the moraine at the bottom of the slope, where there is at least slight runout.

Wherever you go, there you are.
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