Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2012 (Out-of-Date)

Admin edit: The following posts were moved from the main Current Conditions thread.

2013 conditions   Previous years: 2011 Main Trail Conditions

January 2012 is starting out with the least amount of snow ever recorded at this point in the winter. While that bodes ill for future water needs, it provides some unusual winter hiking opportunities. Until the next winter storm arrives, there are only inches of snow on the trails, so hiking for the adventurous is possible.

Snow shoes can be left behind, but some places are icy, so crampons and microspikes are useful.

Here are a few pictures from the lower part of the Mt Whitney trail:
Bob R's picture at the North Fork Lone Pine Creek crossing:


The log crossing:


All of Bob R's pictures are here:
    2012-01-03 Whitney Trail

Here's a picture taken by Richard P on 12/31/11 near Trail Camp. It shows the thin the snow cover:


Richard P's picture of the Main Trail near the summit of Mt. Whitney:


All of Richard P's pictures are here:
    Mt. Muir / Mt. Whitney +6 More - New Year's Eve, 2011