Panorama is a ~30* pitch on a mountain named after a beer--or an englishman, which is even more ridiculous. Wet, gloppy, sticky new snow. I gave up.
I have the lightning 22's exactly for the rotten spring snow you're talking about. I am about 2000 lbs over the specified weight, before I put on my pack. I find the lightnings make decent crampons for strolls up gentle slopes where the snow is not icy, but likely to posthole. But for me they are too short for new snow, even with the extenders I bought and never used.
I've used them over patches of pumice, dirt, gravel, stone, asphalt--but not through bushes. Excuse me, I've gone over the low scrub you find in alpine regions, but don't tell anyone. If you've got the 30s and you're fairly tall IIRC, then I'm sure they're fine. I'm 6'2" and what was most important is that I have clearance to step foot-over-foot on difficult portions, narrow patches cut on steep traverses (as if they really were crampons).
Again, great trip report, Prof. Now don't go throwing yourself in the path of any meteors!
Snoodles are snowshoes, when you're too tired to say both words.
