Snow Drift on the Western Couloir, John Muir Wilderness

If you are hiking early-mid season and plan to summit by ascending the western couloir, be prepared for there to be a large, steep and loooong way down snow drift here! Remember the cardinal rule of hiking in the Sierras!: Always bring your ice axe! (And microspikes/crampons!)If you are hiking very, very late season and the first couple snowfalls of the winter have already befell, then this drift may be impassable with only crampons/microspikes. The snow will be powdery, and will not hold any weight! (This snow would not have even held my hand if I had asked it to!)But lucky for you!, if you have to turn around here, there is another way to summit! Head yourself back on over to the Not-A-Pass and ascend via the southwestern ridgeline! The climb from the ridgeline will be slightly longer, but not quite as steep!