yep. it hadn't snowed substantially in 2 weeks. maybe an inch or so. during the chute, the wind was blowing the snow around so the footsteps still got a little covered up. no slush up there. too cold for that! but no icy spots either, luckly. soft enough were you had confidence in your self arrest and self belay, but not so soft that you'd posthole much.
we left our ice axes literally at the notch. great, sunny afternoon rest stop between the chute and final 400! it was hard to tell if dry-tooling or hand holds would be better.
