Arrived at the trailhead at about 9:30AM, and only 3 other vehicles - on a sunny summer day, there are usually 100+ vehicles! It was a very wet and windy day, right from the trailhead. About 1.5 miles up the trail, my wife decided it wasn't that much fun hiking in the high winds and rain, for no views at the summit. I pressed on while she returned to our vehicle at the trailhead. I made good time to the summit and the lookout. While there were some icy patches, I was able to navigate around them and as such never bothered to put on my "micro-spikes".  

Fortunately for me, the lookout was open!  The summit of Mount Pilchuk is very exposed to the elements, and the high gusty winds prevented me from erecting my 4-element Yagi for 2M outside.  

I eat my lunch inside the lookout tower, where several other folks were hunkered down. After lunch, I got out my Yaesu VX-6R and attached an MFJ-1714  1/2 wave whip. To my surprise, I was able to log 7 contacts on 2M within 30 minutes, even though the shutters on the looout were closed.