As to the ramps, I've come up from the westside and down the east the last few years, so I haven't had the advantage of recollecting my ascent. As a result, I seem to always lose the trail (for a few moments) around the ramps.
Because I can travel moderate x-c, I tend not to get too worried and simply back-track, but in many ways, the ramps have the potential to be the most dangerous part of the trail.
