There is only snow at the base of the needles and at Iceberg Lake when I was there. When answering the OP, I believe he was asking, and I was referring to the snow field near the summit from the main trail. You'll be on dry ground up the Mountaineer's Chute in September. There was ice on the right/North/West(?) side of the Final 400 which was easily avoidable when I went a few weeks ago. Going up the chute is very straight forward. Stay on the boulder fields to the left when you start off. I looks steep and scary from a distance, but is not. Do NOT go in the center of the chute like you would in the winter. Keep staying on the left till you hit the Notch. Basically, just stay left. LOL
How much snow is still up there? There was a crap load in July, but I figured September would be fairly dry. Snow in the chute? Final 400?
I was hoping there would be hikers there in September when I go. I haven't solidified a date as of yet, but was hoping I could follow, or at least see someone going up after Iceberg. I've got most of the trail hiked and/or figured out with the exception of the last part up the chute and 400. Doug gave me lots of advice on the last way up to the summit, so I have images with markings on them.
I'm pretty sure, okay, I'm positive I can do the MR, I'm just concerned with being exhausted for the last couple of hundred yards. No place to get a headache, nausea, etc.
As a note, I study everything and do reconnaissance hikes prior to doing things I'm a bit concerned about. As I have said before....."on paper, I know exactly where to go and what to do". Problem is.....I won't be hiking on paper.
I think he's talking about sleeping on the summit(hut) and not the Notch.
You will have a tough time finding a spot to put your bivy at the notch. I don't recall seeing any smooth level places.
It is only half an hour to the top from the notch, so just go there. If the weather is bad, you could stay inside the hut, otherwise there are plenty of spots there to sleep under the stars.
And for that matter, I'd camp at LBSL both nights 1 & 2. It just isn't that far to the summit from Iceberg. And do take water from Iceberg. If you start after noon, you could probably get by with 3 liters. It's several hundred ft. elevation drop down to that snow patch, so it seems easier to carry the 6 lbs all the way from 12.5k rather than dropping and re-climbing 400' with your entire body's weight. ;-)
