Hiking did help, and it was full on winter about 1,000ft higher in elevation than that pic! I got to use my microspikes on some icy slabs and I feel amazzzzing. It was my first 4k'er in years, and I'm so happy to know I can still physically do them (I mean this was probably of the top 5 easiest of the 48, but still, 2,000ft of elevation gain in 2.3mi (and then back!) is pretty good!)(Also arguably the worst footing of any hike I've done, but maybe I'm forgetting some hikes)