Well I've hunted several western states (not yet above tree line) and although you are higher in elevation from all I've climbed in Idaho, Montana and Colorado, I can honestly say that our mountains here in NC PA are just as steep. Then you compound that steepness with fresh fallen autumn leaves with some rain or worse, snow on them and you can have a miserable time trying to claw your way up to the top. The rockies are a bit more forgiving in that regard than our little appalacians. And coming down is worse yet. One slip and you can become a human toboggan very quickly.
I recall one time being a younger lad. My parents had bought me one of those "Hot Seats" for hunting. It hooked to you belt via a "S" hook, was basically a vinyl pillowed filled with styrofoam balls. It did a great job of keeping your butt warm on those cold rocks/logs. One day coming down on one of those said snow covered mountain sides I mis-stepped and slipped, landed squarely on the Hot Seat which immediately transformed into a rocket sled. I believe I was close to approaching Mach II when the seat departed from my belt. I continued on for another 30-40 yards before my feet dug in deep enough to stop me. I turned around looking up at the hillside seeing hundreds of tiny styro balls rolling down. The tattered seat laying on top of the snow. Needless to say I never used one of them again.