Part of the problem is that a first timer up there in mostly solid snow isn't going to have a clue as to where the normal switchback trail is above the cable section. You can look at photos all you want, but you better have excellent navigational aids. If you have a detailed GPS track stored in a GPS receiver, and if you know that you have plenty of extra battery power for it, then you might be able to follow it. On the other hand, climbing up a loose scree slope isn't for everybody, either.

One year, back about year 2 or 3 for me, we ran into solid snow at the cable section, so we just climbed straight up until we got to the Discovery Pinnacle. Then we had to ridge-walk over and down to Trail Crest.