Basic Alpine Climb - Ingalls Peak/South Ridge

Occasional patchy snow, starting about a mile or so in. Most of the long traverse is snow free. Then snow becoming more consistent about 300-400 feet below the pass. Consistent snow from here on.

It had been cool enough the night before for the snow to be in good condition. Perfect for kicking steps. No traction needed. Punching through here and there near rocks, but not bad. Not much post-holing.

A few trickles to filter water from if you are by-passing the lake, which we did.

By late morning it was very warm and sunny. Then clouds moved in around noon, which helped it cool off and the snow was in similar condition on the return. We heard several rounds of thunder, but it stayed east and south of us. A momentary sprinkle, which quickly dried.

Route itself is in great condition, snow-free. Someone had removed all the tat from the large boulder on the big ledge. We added a new sling with rap ring. Someone has added a sling around a horn about 20-30 feet up and to climber's right, so if you are doing a single rap with a 60, you can use that station, we bypassed it with a double rap from the top.

Doing this climb early season definitely makes it feel like more of a mountaineering trip, and helps you avoid some unsavory scree skating. No one else on route on a beautiful Friday! Only saw one other hiker the whole day.