I started from the 2wd TH (my truck is in the shop) at 4:50 AM. Near continuous snow after the creek crossing near 10,200'. Options to walk large sections of dry ground at the side of the road are growing. After the Pearl Pass turnoff I crossed the creek almost immediately on a snow bridge just before the huts. Originally I was going to ascend the north bowl, but as I skinned higher in the basin gaining the ridge seemed to be the most direct choice. I brought crampons & splitboard crampons yet used neither. My axe was rather helpful as the snow varied from mid-shin deep kicks to near bulletproof. Thankfully most were that perfect ankle deep level. Gaining the ridge the wind increased & I made sure to have my axe planted or my hands on rocks. The final summit pitch was a short combo of snow & rock - topping out at 9:30. After a few minutes up top I carefully rode east down the ridge. Using my axe & moving very slowly I worked my way down a few feet into the bowl. The snow was near bulletproof for this entire section. No real exposure here - just plenty of rocks ready to ruin your day (or life). About a 100 feet below the summit the sun had done its work & everything was corned up nicely. A speedy cruise across the open basin & a 40 or 50 vertical foot hike had me near the base of Greg Mace Peak. A shortcut (I'd spied on the way up) down the northwest side of GMP offered plenty more corn turns. I hit the road about 10,950' & managed to ride 90% of it to the creek crossing. An easy road walk from there - I finished at 11:05. The strong wind did well this day at combating the solar heating - its worth considering when looking at less than ideal overnight freezes.
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