My fiance and I are planning a road trip out West in late May and early June to visit some friends and family and do some mountaineering. With our schedule, we'd like to do Whitney in a day. We're both fairly experienced hikers, and are preceding Mt. Whitney with a guided climb of Rainier (via DC/IG), Mt. Hood (via South Side), and Mt. Shasta (via Avalanche Gulch).

We're going to be at Mt. Whitney the first week of June. I've seen information about the road construction, so I know we'll have to account for that in our plans.

We think we'd like to do the Mountaineer's Route for the added technical challenge. We have all our own equipment, to include ice axes, crampons, and helmets.

I've seen a lot of accounts and pictures on this forum and other sites. Do you think we're being overly ambitious by planning to do MR in a day at this time of year?

We have harnesses and rope, are those necessary or helpful given that it's just the two of us? I've seen the photos and descriptions of the traverse and "walk-up" route above the notch. I know it's impossible to predict snow conditions 3 months in advance, but historically, how will the ice and snow compare to the chute vs. the traverse at that time of the year?

My main concern, as it usually is, is the descent and timing. From the times, distances, and factoring in our normal speed and conditioning, I think it might take us 6-7 hours up and perhaps 4-5 down. Is it wise to do an alpine start, and navigate the Ebersbacher ledges pre-dawn? The pictures from Bob R make it look safe enough if you know the route, but those are in full daylight. From all the other accounts from the past couple years, it sounds like the trail is fairly well marked, and I will have a map/compass/GPS.

As I'm thinking out loud about all this it seems like it might greatly increase our chances of making a summit bid safely to put in for the overnight lottery and turn it into a two day trip, camping at Iceberg Lake the first night, then resting up before going for the summit and coming down?

I appreciate any and all feedback.

-Nic

Last edited by Nic K; 02/23/16 08:33 AM.