UPDATE- On Nov 7 around 2:30pm Sequoia and Kings National Park located Alan Stringer deceased at the top of the Darwin glacier, near the base of the notch to go up Mount Darwin. Sequoia and Kings will be conducting the investigation and recovery. https://www.facebook.com/InyoCountySheriffsOffice/

Tragic.

This place is more dangerous than people acknowledge. Stepping off the glacier one is immediately on steep terrain. Getting to the notch in the West ridge is more involved than the simple class 3 rating lets on. There is a class 3 way but there are plenty of opportunities to get on harder terrain as well. Things are even more dangerous in the late season when all the snow is hard packed/icy.

I don't consider myself completely clueless in the mountains (maybe I'm wrong) but I was turned back twice there due to conditions or poor routefinding. The third time my partner and I brought a short rope and I am glad we did - for this and for the summit block.