Surprisingly, it seems in the trip reports that people frequently and inadvertently go off-trail. I say surprisingly because the impression I've gotten is that the mountain is a virtual highway of hikers.
Yes and no.
On a pleasent sunny day, most of the trail is straightforward. The worst is between Mirror Lake and Trail Camp where the trail runs over areas of solid rock. Darkness, exhaustion or snow cover can greatly add to any confusion. Even when there are other hikers around they may not be close and they may be off trail for a variety of reasons and have different goals and skills than you do.
If I'm planning to do the main trail, can I just eyeball it or do I have to do some path finding? Thanks.
In a wilderness you are always responsible for path finding. Sometimes it's trivial, sometimes far less so. You should always have a map, knowledge of where the trail runs, where you are on the map and the ability to relate those things to what you see around you day or night. How much gear it takes to achieve that is a matter of personal preference and experience.
I too am a first-timer, hoping to bite the bullet and go for a solo day hike next week. This has been on my wish list for the last few years. I finally have some time off, am in shape, and really want to go for it - while being smart, of course. The permit site's random availability is giving me hope that I'll be able to secure one.
Odds are good.
I'm reading a lot of different things online about crampons/microspikes. Will I need them? Some of the snow crossing photos I've seen on this forum look tough, and I have no snow experience.
You see different things when you look online because snow traval varies with slope angle, altitude, time of day, weather, weather history, equipment, experience with the equipment, social environment, judgement...
Snow and water are decreasing but not gone. Know where the trail is, think about why and don't leave it without good reason (in the right conditions, 'for fun' is a good enough reason).
Also, I've been reading online that some seem to prefer a trail shoe, and some prefer a hiking boot (with a higher ankle). What's the consensus here? I hike on the coast, in Yosemite, and have done Half Dome in the shoes I use for trail marathons (Brooks Cascadia), and they were fine.
There is no safe consensus on foot gear. Find out ahead of time what conditions may be and what -your- feet need. One year we were going up the chute in snow and were passed by a solo dayhiker in Tevas. His dayhike time was far less than mine but I still don't approach the Mt Whitney trail without my ankles covered. Your mileage might vary. Don't expect meaningful answers without very specific questions.
Thanks in advance for the advice - I'd rather be cautious than rush into it, and have an enjoyable, safe hike.
1)Plan on a safe return.
2)Have fun consistent with 1).
Dale B. Dalrymple
