We did not get above 10,700, and that shot was at 10,500. In the summer, we have managed to get to the top of Kearsarge Pass (above 11,000) and to the top of Bishop Pass (around 12,000). But deep rotting snow is very slow going -- lots of "post-holing" where the snow collapses suddenly and your foot plunges down and the wet snow grabs you around the upper thigh. Very refreshing! And because the snow was patchy (some deep snow, some dry ground, rocks, etc.), we could not use snow shoes. Micro-spikes (slip-on crampons) were a big help, as were knee-high snow gaiters.
