What can we say group of 5 of us got together and headed up Sky Pilot. The smoke was so thick that on the summit you couldn't see Habrich never mind all the other views that should have been there. We left the top of the gondola at 9:50 and worked our way along and up. While I was the trip organizer Derek Fenton took on the job of getting us to the top. Derek is an excellent leader making sure we moved at a pace that everyone was happy with but at the same time still getting us there. The glacier was still mostly snow with a patch of ice starting to form. Since we had opted not to bring crampons we walked around the ice and up to the ridge and pink slabs. Having watched some gopro videos from the pink slabs I had hauled a rope all the way up there. However once there I learnt it goes at grade 3 (not 5.3)  so personally I won't be taking a rope again.  Made our way to the summit enjoyed a snack and a glimpse of Habrich through the smoke, then  headed down. Thanks to Pinar, Roger, Fiona and Derek for a great day and bagging a summit I first saw 20 years ago. 

Notes:

outback runners were fine, hiking poles yes, ice axe yes, crampons no,

rope 40m  if you don't like down climbing (nice new rap rings on the route)