Here is a late report but I reach he summit on Saturday morning (July 1st). This is my breakdown of the trip:
Friday morning around 10AM, I took the old trail behind the big boulder just west of the portal store. I was carrying about 38lbs of gear(10lbs would of photography equipment) and headed up the mountain.
Around 12:30pm, I took a short break at Mirror Lake and had lunch. Lone pine creek was definitely flowing water but with my trekking poles, I managed to hop rocks across the streams and didn't get wet. There was one section that had a lot of water flow so I took off my socks and wades in ankle high water then put them back one. The icy water felt refreshing on my feet!
Just shortly after Mirror Lake, I made my way up to where the W steps were. They were flowing with water but I also notice thats where the snow started and also the trail. Since it was slushy, I did not put on any micropikes on cause it was easy enough to get to trail camp.
I got to trail camp just a little before 2pm and went ahead to set up camp. I talked to people nearby and a few mentioned to take the 99 switchbacks up and take the chute down. I was pretty convinced at this point that I will go ahead and take that opportunity. I went to bed at 7pm and hoped the next day would be successful.
I woke up at 3:30am but went back to bed shortly. I woke up again at 4AM, made breakfast and left at 5AM.
I was walking towards the chute and then next to the random rockpiles before turning towards the actual chute, I saw the cables for the 99 switchbacks. I went ahead and climb towards them.
I got onto the switchbacks, following the streaming water which is a good indicator of going up the right path. From the distance, I saw two Coyotes going up near the chute. When I started from trail camp, I heard some dog barks but wasn't sure. I guess it really was the coyotes that were hanging nearby. Once I reached the trail crest, I was happy with this decision. after 15-20 switchbacks, there is an ice patch you will have to climb about 50ft up to the next section of the switchback. After that, there is about another 2 more ice patches before reaching the last part of the switchback which is also snow/ice but it will lead towards the crest trail. The great part was you can follow the footprints which act as steps so it made it easier than the chute. It took my about 2 hours from trail camp to the JMT/Summit junction to head up to Mt Whitney summit.
I got to the summit around 8:20AM with another backpacker coming from the JMT. We chatted at the summit and took some photos. I headed back down the summit trail and decided to take the chute back.
I will say this, MICROSPIKES AND TREKKING POLES WERE SKETCHY. I had to traverse on the less steep side of the chute about 100 yards, over the giant toboggan slide that everyone glissaded down and went towards the middle rock section next to the actual chute. I find this more convenient since I was more comfortable going down from there. Once I got to the bottom of the middle rock section of the chute, I went ahead and glissaded down the the rest of the chute with one trekking pole in my pack. I collapsed my other trekking pole and used it to somewhat control my speed since it was very slushy by then.
Got to trail camp around 1:30pm and slept until midnight where I decided to do some astrophotography at consultation lake. The next morning I packed my gear and left for the portal around 8am. On the way, I informed day hikers and those planning to camp at trail camp of taking the 99 switchbacks and taking the chute back. As I mentioned, Microspikes and trekking poles are doable but if you have an ice axe, probably better.
THE BEST TIME TO BE CLIMBING PAST TRAIL CAMP IS ANYTIME BEFORE 8AM. It gets slushy pretty early so leave trail camp just before 5am if you can or if starting from portal, leave no longer than 1AM.
I have climbed the summit before but this was my first time testing out micro spikes and no ice axe. I wanted to see how well I did in these conditions but I am thankful that I made it down safely.
