First hand info is a great thing! Check 'em out, pictures taken just yesterday 10/29. Looking icy! Let's hope that eventually it gets covered, fresh coat so to speak. But for now, get it while the gettin's good. Approach could hardly be easier: My wife and I walked in tennis shoes basically to the "glacier trail" intersection. We switched to mountain boots, hopped across some patches of snow, then put on snowshoes before going up the steeper section to Sam Mack Meadow. Definitely need the snowshoes, but they make it cruiser! Snowshoed straight up the right gully out of the meadow, cruised up to just below the Thunderbolt East "Prow". To be honest, we had intended to go up the U-notch to North Pal. Wish i could say we turned around for the weather (which did deteriorate- to the point of raining on our way out) or because we didn't have time. But really, we just lost our mojo- hey, it happens! It's been a long season! Anyway, enjoy the photos, go get some!