These pictures were taken on descent. Close-up of Cooper Spur with red line I followed up. After starting way too early, I huddled in the lee of Tie-in rock until I could see where to head up the snow slope. The crux is a short exposed fifty degree snow slope where people have fallen and been killed, so this is not a beginners route. Firm snow is a necessity and it is wise to have a pre-dawn start.
Crumbly rock pinnacles alongside the route near the top.
I was the only one here this day. From the parking lot at Cloud Cap Inn, an ascent is feasible in 4 hours or less if you're fit and climb the snow slopes quickly. I've noticed a lot more haze in the Cascades than in the Canadian Rockies. Looking north, it was hard to even see Mounts Rainier and Adams . Although the views do not encompass nearly as many other peaks as a Rockies panorama from Mount Assiniboine or Bryce would, it was very satisfying to be up there alone anyway, since back problems had hampered my ascents for a year or two previously.