SummitPost.org

This August I'm hoping to hike up the east face of Teewinot, and with the low snow levels this year, I was wondering if it would be doable without an ice axe. I know what most would say: "That's stupid, why not just err on the side of caution and take one?", but it's complicated (wife doesn't want me doing anything that requires one, so if I can make the case that it doesn't then I'm good to go). I've heard of accidents occuring on the two steep semi-permanent snowfields on the way up, but for those who have done the route in August of a dry year, do you think they'd be melted out enough to bypass without too much additional effort?

I was fine in running shoes in mid-July 2010. You can avoid most of the snow if you don't mind a bit of 4th class, and Exum guides it enough that there was a good boot-pack on the one I had to cross.

I'll be the voice of dissent here - if your reason for not carrying an ice axe (which should be a 14 oz - 20 oz item) is because your wife thinks it would be "too dangerous".... then.....

um....

OK nevermind, I have no logical response. Carry on.