Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports Mt Whitney Conditions June 18/19

To all heading up in the next couple days, my advice is to get an early start around 4am for the best hiking conditions. We left early Saturday morning intending to summit that day, but due to some delays did not arrive at Trail Camp until 2pm. By that time it was post hole city and the few who did continue to the Chute wasted energy they should have saved for the following day. Sunday we departed around 4:30am and had terrific icy conditions on the Chute which were perfect for crampons and ice axes. This helped with a steady footing and less expense of energy, though it was still a tough ascent. As we glissaded down around 11am the conditions were slushy and even more difficult. It was as tough to climb as it was exhilarating conquer. The hike out went well in spite of occasional post holing and sliding around, at least it was down hill. Do your best to get good trail directions and stay right en route to Trail Camp, there are a lot of misguided trekkers that lose the trail due to temporary snow cover and veer left over some huge and exhausting hills (I know this bc I am one of them, so don't follow my foot prints ha ha).

It was warmer than I thought, I wore a capilene t-shirt and stretchy trail pants during the day and a light weight capilene top under my jacket and goretex pants up top. I tried to avoid sweating by adjusting layers. Get gaiters if you don't have them. I was wrong to anticipate cooler conditions and could have saved weight in the pack, of course its good to be prepared for an unexpected change in weather, I just had more gear than necessary.

Good luck and have fun.
KC

So would you suggest trying to be off the summit and down the chute by noon? We are planning a day hike on Thursday and were planning on leaving portal at like 3 am and leaving the summit by noon. However, if its getting really warm, it sounds like we should be down the chute by noon. Perhaps a 1:30 am start time?

I cannot answer all of the intricate timing about the chute (many others have recently been up there, so they will weigh in, or you can ask around at the Portal)

However, I urge you to place SLEEP as your number one priority (it is only wnen you sleep that you are truly acclimatizing efficiently)Taking an informal survey of sad-looking hikers on the switchbacks, with confidence, I would say that the statistics showed that those who started too early were the most exhausted by mid-day -- no matter what shape they were in (too early would be a start without adequate sleep -- not necessarily based on wake-up time, itself).

The only reason to leave the summit that early would be foul weather coming in. You're going to hit softer snow in the afternoon no matter what -- just plan on it.

But it is down-hill, so shouldn't be too bad.

Hi Andeo,

About all I can say is that starting after 11am the snow gets softer and softer. We timed it right on day 2, but don't forget we had planned to summit the previous day. I think climbing the Chute was the most important task to plan around in terms of time of day, so maybe time that right and go with the flow on the trek out. Its difficult this time of year to get around the slushy snow regardless how early you leave.

KC