Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports Trip Report to Summit and back || 6/24/17

Nice detailed report.

I went solo as well, two weeks ago but did run into some nice people along the way and tagged along, for bits and portions of the trail, both going up and down.

The river crossing, both the 1st "smaller one" and at the North Fork Crossing, I gave up trying to avoid the water and just basically went in with my shoes and gaiter. My feet/shoes were literally submerged in the water (and this was around 1am in the AM). But yes, the water was raging. Fortunately, my socks never got wet and shoes never felt damp. Kind of surprised it wasn't damped or wet from the amount of water. Some awesome shoes (but, I paid for it going down later).

Got lost for a little bit around the Mirror Lake area and had to climb some smaller chute but once I got over the rocks, found the route again and it was straight forward to Trail Camp. GPS helps (used GAIA GPS and even had to point out to other hikers the right directions in some areas)

As I was approaching Trail Camp, I can see the "chute" LOL and little black specks of people on it. I was intimidated by it. It looks very daunting but I just had to do it. Crampons/Ice Axe out.

Got up in 2.5hrs later. I didn't know I had it in me. It just looked crazy but doable if you take your time. It helped that there was a foot path carved directly into the snow on the chute. In fact, once you're at Trail Crest, if you're looking out, you really can't see the slope - it looks like a vertical drop.

Trail Crest to Summit, clear and dry except for the last bit, but just scramble up the rocks to avoid snow.

On way back to Trail Crest, I didn't even bother doing any hiking downhill. Found the glissade path, or the "glissade tube," as you call it, and just glissaded straight down from the very top of Trail Crest. Didn't do a single hike down the chute or partial hike. Hah!

Overall, fun. Did Solo but met some cool people on the trail. Tiring for a day trip.

Never had any headaches or illness from altitude - as I've been higher. I just struggled at the top because the thin air pretty much sucked all the energy out of me and the desire to continue to Summit :p but I still made it eventually.