I appreciated spikes from 13,300 feet to the summit, especially on the descent. Everyone's comfort level is different. I'm 6'5" and the added stability keeps me confident.

We started at 5 AM and the snow, ice, and dirt were frozen and not particularly slippery. It got much more slick as we descended from 9-11. At about 13,000 we took the spikes off and it was fine, a slip here and there.

I wore gaiters, which was totally unnecessary. Not enough snow present for postholing.

What a fantastically built trail! Thanks CFI!

We started on the trail much later in the day (like, 10:30am...the opposite of an alpine start! love that october weather). Trail runners, shorts, and poles. Lots of melt out by 2pm. Felt like summer except that breeze. Don't think spikes are necessary at all unless you're above 13,000 in the morning when it is still icy. Otherwise it basically mud.