Started up from Gregory Canyon around 1:30pm and immidiately knew conditions were going to be interesting, as what is normally the first ~minute of the run was rock solid, bullet proof ice despite the reasonably comfortable 50's-ish temps. I negotiated the first section (just barely) without traction, as I knew things would soon clear up for the remainder of the way up Gregory Canyon, but progress was slow and careful.
Once at the top of Gregory, I threw on the spikes, as I had a feeling that aside from a few short sections, the remainder of the trail, to the 4-way at least, would be very slick. Much of it was like a luge run, which was actually OK if you have reasonably sharp microspikes, but some sections on the upper ridge are melted out, so it was either glare ice, or scratching on rock.
I took it fairly mellow and Sierra was ahead of me most of the way having a blast in the softer snow on the side of the trail. Spent a long while soaking up the sun on the summit before heading down.
The descent required some caution due to the uneven and sometimes awkward footing. It never really flowed and running on the ice was like pounding pavement, only harder.
Up: 44
Down: 24
How's the Achilles grizzle?
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