My friend Dan and I were on the main trail this Memorial Day weekend. The
pictures show some of the conditions.
I have never seen so many unprepared Whitney "climbers"! While a few adventuresome souls were trying the switchbacks (and reporting back that it was extremely dangerous), about 95% were tackling the snow chute below Trail Crest, with half of those sensible enough to turn around partway up. Very few had ice ax and crampons. Many were in running shoes instead of boots, and many of those didn't even have microspikes along. Many said this was their first time hiking in snow.
It's enough to drive a wbtravis5152 nuts.
