This morning, Saturday, August 12th, a major plug in a crevasse at 13,600 ft fell in, making the current Disappointment Cleaver route impassable. Climbers will be looking for alternate routes aournd the crevasse in the coming days, but nothing obvious has presented itself. Changes to the standard routes (both the Disappointment Cleaver and Emmons-Winthrop) occur daily late in the season and become much more challenging. Crevasses widen, snow plugs fall, and snow bridges collapse. Note that these changes can occur AFTER you've passed through thus making a descent on the same route impossible. Be sure to keep your head up and look for alternatives while you're ascending and don't climb above something that once collapsed, would prevent your descent.With both the rapid changes on the routes and the approaching storm front, this weekend has especially hazardous conditions in store. Please be conservative in your decision making - these next couple of days isn't the time to push your limits.
