I am looking to summit Whitney via Whitney Trail over two days later this month and was wondering what everyone would recommend for footwear. Obviously there is no forecast for those dates, nor do I know how bad the snowpack is. Regardless, what does everyone recommend?
This time of year you usually need some kind of skills and tool set to allow you to travel on top of the snow.
Preferably, I would like to use my LaSpo Aequilibrium Top GTX (maybe with some toe warmers for summit) due to comfort and versatility but am concerned that it won't suffice once I reach trail camp. My other immediate options are the Nepal Evos or I can get burly with a pair of G2s which I'm assuming would be overkill right now for anything other than the M/R.
You know the names of some nice boots. The boots you take up the trail should match the tools and skills you plan to use to travel on top of the snow. Are you planning skis, snowshoes, crampons, other people's boot packs? (It's a little early to count on boot packs unless you have a large group to make your own.) If the snow is all blown off, boot types don't matter much. If there is snow and you don't have skills and tools to travel on top of it, you shouldn't be taking any boots up the trail. That's the time of year it is.
You haven't given enough information yet to get any less general answer.
Good luck, Be safe,
Dale B. Dalrymple
