Looks like it’ll be an interesting May, June. The Sierra snow pack picked up steam late this year and is on track for the second largest in a few years, 2023 being pretty much off the recent charts.
Looking back in the threads here, 2023 had discussions into August on snow conditions on the 99 switchbacks. 2022 and 2021 had significantly smaller snow packs. In 2022, no comments that I could see on trail snow conditions around May, June. Probably a sign that people are getting up and down okay. Back in 2021, there’s commentary that the main trail was pretty much snow free by middle of May. 2020, a little later snowpack, but not huge, there’s pictures & discussion around June 23rd about the trail reopening. Looks manageable. 2019, another relatively decent snowpack and there are some notes around 1st week July that’s there was a lot of snow on the trail.
Probably still a toss-up right now if the 99 switchbacks will be navigable without some equipment in late June, even if microspikes. Could be more snow in the coming weeks and who knows how fast it’ll all melt.
Overall my money is with bobpickering succeeding with crampons, June 19th. 40 times up, that’s a ton of know-how and experience. A legend.
Snow pack charts here. And, this isn’t necessarily a Whitney predictor. I think it’s Phillips Station data, west of Tahoe. Whitney is its own thing.
https://www.latimes.com/projects/california-sierra-snowpack-2024-records-drought-history/
