Replying to my previous post above: clearly the big hazard is The Chute (with which I'm not familiar since I've never been there). Just finished reading this thread:

http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/topics/53410/Mt_Whitney_multiple_injuries_o#Post53410

Doesn't exactly inspire confidence! So now I'm wondering, in 10 days (e.g. June 21-22) will The Chute be the only way up/down (I think this is on the east side)?

If so, will the only safe way to cross it be with real crampons and ice axe? (And of course actually knowing what to do with the ice axe)?

I'm no fool and don't take unnecessary risks. I've been thinking I'd be happy to skip summiting Whitney...but summiting doesn't really seem like an issue so much as just getting up to Trail Crest (from the west) and back down to Trail Camp.

So right now, I'm wondering if I just blow off Whitney entirely and continue south on the PCT/JMT to Cottonwood Pass?

If you're knowledgable about this area and have been known to curse at unprepared fools on Whitney before, here's your chance to enlighten one of them before he gets on the mountain! :-)

Thanks,
Scott