We did Portal to Trail Camp on the 11th. Summit and down to Portal on the 12th. There are two small snow field traverses just below camp. They are carved out nicely but if you don't get up there until late afternoon you may want to throw on the spikes for confidence. Not needed though. It is important that when you get to the end of trail meadows that you do not follow the many footsteps into the snow on the left unless you want to trudge through snow for a few hundred yards to trail camp. When you get to this point look over your right shoulder to find the trail.
This was my first time sleeping at this elevation. I had some difficulty falling asleep. Some of it was summit anxiety but I think a lot had to do with the altitude (I live in Scottsdale, AZ - 1,200 ft) because after lugging a 50lb pack up 4,000 ft I should have had no difficulty crashing.
Trail Camp to Summit took us just over four hours. The section from trail camp to quarter way up the 99 is covered in snow. We scrambled straight up the boulder field until we found dry switch backs. The cable section is the sketchiest of the whole trip. We went inside between the snow and granite and it was no problem at all. Just before Trail Crest you have to traverse two snow fields. These sections are well-defined and easy to clear - Thanks Steve C! - I used spikes on the way up but realized that they weren't necessary so didn't use them on the way down.
Trail Crest to Summit there are two sections to note. The first is where the trail appears to end at a snow bank. If you look over the snow bank the trail is on the other side. There is a little notch to climb through on the left of the snow bank. The second is just before summit. There are two snow fields to ascent. Again, the trail is very defined and easily navigable without spikes but your call. You can always scramble up the boulder field to the right as well.
No ice axe needed. By now, probably no spikes even needed but bring them if you want to. I live at 1,200 ft and train at that elevation. I did not use Doamox for this hike. The three things that I focused on both days were 1) drink water constantly (I added electrolytes); 2) snack constantly; 3)breath into your backpack so that your stomach expands. Short choppy breaths do you no good up there. I made it up and down with no altitude complications, except falling asleep at camp. Not even a headache. Plenty of water everywhere up there. I filled from the natural springs and drank without filtration and had no complications. I took 3 liters from Trail Camp to Summit and back and was fine.
Most important...have fun and enjoy this epic journey! Be safe but no need to worry another second about conditions at this point. You got this!
Last edited by Naneek; 07/17/19 10:35 AM.
