I was lucky enough to snag an overnight permit July 16th, but have bounced back and forth between which hiking shoes to bring. I love trail runners, but feel boots are may be more appropriate?

Our date has me questioning wearing trail runners as well because of the high snow levels this year. It is sort of in that inbetween phase whether the switchbacks will be completely melted or still covered in a bit of snow/ice, in which case we may need crampons for the chute. So I'm uncertain which to bring.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to just check trip reports closer to our date to check in on the cables/switchbacks, but it still leaves me questioning if I should just bring boots regardless of any snow/ice, given the terrain.

Thanks for your feedback.

Yosey,

I remembered climbing late June last year and had taken the 99 switchbacks. There was a section of the 99 switchbacks where you need some micro spikes to get across to continue the trail. There were some previous footprints I shadowed so it made it easier but my concern would be on the way down. I glissaded down the chute when the snow was slushing midday but if you are going in mid July, I think you may be at luck with taking the switchbacks up and down but it’s always good to bring micro spikes just in case there is some snow/ice at the 99 switchbacks.

Either way you'll probably want to bring some sort of traction device - crampons or spikes so, at that point, it might depend on what you have already. i.e. if you have boot-compatible crampons, then you'll want to wear boots.

But for the snow (assuming you mean postholing etc), you could always wear gators with your trail runners.

If there is no (or very little) snow/ice anywhere by that time, trail runners will work. But it depends on what you prefer. If you love the trail runners, take them.

By mid July, agree there might be some snow for sure, but you could probably get by with trail runners and microspikes. Best bet is to monitor trip reports for then-current conditions and make your decision then.