Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports July 7th Summit

Hello all:

I was able to successfully summit Mt. Whitney with two friends on Friday, July 7th. I personally have hiked Mt. Whitney over 20 times with approximately 20 successful summits. Here is my recent trip report (7/7/17):

1. An ice ax is a MUST whether you take the switchbacks or the main chute.
2. I decided to change my plans from taking the Chute to the Switchbacks after observing my two friends' condition on the way up to trailcammp (we spent the night at trail camp) - they were extremely wiped out from the physical exertion of carrying their packs up to trailcamp (the two large snow fields didn't help).
3. The decision turned out to be a good one but a word to experienced hikers: don't adjust your hiking style to accommodate newbies. I was fearful having my two friends cross a snowfield due to their inexperience with ice axes/self-arresting but scrambling up rocks to go over the snowfield proved to be about just as dangerous!
4. Glissading down the Chute: There are several large rocks in the large "tunnel" that everyone is taking down the chute. Please keep in mind that a lot of fatalities on the mountain occur as a result of blindly doing what everyone else is doing. I used PERFECT self-arresting techniques with no success in slowing down my speed. All I accomplished was having my ice-ax slide through slushy snow. Both of my friends (newbies) dislocated their shoulders and lost their ice-axes in the chute (taking the large, indented path in the chute that I termed the "tunnel" above). I strongly believe that if I would have just started a new glissading pathway on the chute neither one of them would have been injured or lost their ax. Of course, if one of them would have veered left or right into a rock field I would feel more guilty than a dislocated shoulder.
5. DO NOT GLISSADE DOWN THE CHUTE if you are not confident enough to start a new pathway down or follow a lightly used indentation. DO NOT USE the "TUNNEL" (my term). I guarantee there will be at least one fatality in the "tunnel" if it is not closed or people stop taking it....there is just too much snow that has been eroded and this is the most dangerous pathway down from trailcrest that I have witnessed in my 20+ years on the mountain.
6. On the final path to the summit the trail will stop at a large snowfield. Turn Right BEFORE the snowfield and scramble up some rocks and find the trail to the summit. Wait there, take a water break, eat....do whatever to make sure you see people coming down the trail....do not start randomly scrambling up the rocks.... you will waste precious energy and time (the danger level is rather low once you leave the main trail upwards but don't go on a wild goose chase). There is a small, safe snow field you have to cross AFTER you scramble up the rocks....but I would wait until you see someone coming down to VERIFY you are on the right path if you are not ABSOLUTELY SURE. However, if you attempt to cross the snowfield and continue on the main trail (not turning right and heading up BEFORE the snowfield) please look left and see where you will end up if you slip and slide down the back face of Whitney (hint: not far from Guitar Lake!).
7. Safe travels to everyone....it is my personal goal to prevent any more unnecessary deaths on Whitney. Feel free to ask me any and all questions about more trip details. Also, checkout my posting under "General Discussion" to read my thoughts on the stupidity on the mountain that NEVER ceases to amaze me!