Killerca-
Im glad to hear you guys are ok for the most part (shoulder MRI pending)
I have advice to newbies: DO NOT learn to hike in snow or ice on Mt. Whitney. Take a class or practise somewhere else.
Bob West made two posts on this site on June 23rd about crampons,self arrest, and etc. Start by reading those.
I admire to a point the guts some of the people on this site have and I respect everyones choice to decide what is safe for themselves so this is just the opinion of of an older "newbie chicken" and nothing more: lost ice axes and dislocated shoulders from flying down the chute that is wild. I summited in the summer of 2016 in dry conditions on the main trail and I was half scared to death.
