Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports July 23-25: Fabulous Conditions, Visibility and Views

What a beautiful time of year to do this trip! I enjoyed my second Whitney Summit on Sunday (along with a first-timer friend), and met many folks along the way and at the portal (Doug Sr., Wazzu, Bulldog, Lady Bulldog, Bulldog Pup, Quillansculpture)

ACCLIMATIZATION: We spent Thursday and Friday (July 21-22) at the Rock Creek Lodge, in one of the rustic cabins on a stream (9600' elevation). On Thursday afternoon, on arriving from the Bay Area, we hiked to Ruby Lake on the Mono Pass trail from the Mosquito Flat TH -- an absolutely breathtaking lake, with wonderful views of Little Lakes Valley on the way up. On Friday, we hiked from the same trailhead over Morgan Pass to Upper Morgan Lake. I tried fishing, got a few nibbles but landed nothing. I did manage to embed a fishhook deep into my thumb (ouch!). Luckily, a bit of trail magic occurred -- a nurse happened to walk by as I was attempting self surgery (using a needle provided by a diabetic friend), and together we were able to get it out.

DIAMOX: Last year, after discovering that I get Cheyne-Stokes breathing at night at 11,000 feet, I started taking Diamox on high altitude hikes (62.5 mg twice a day, starting a day or so before the trip). After doing some more research, I decided this time to take no Diamox before the trip or during the prehikes; then take a single dose of 62.5 mg an hour before going to sleep on the first night at Trail Camp; and no additional Diamox thereafter. This highly reduced dosage worked for me on this trip -- no Cheyne Stokes, everything was just great.

WEATHER: In a word, fabulous. The low at Trail Camp on Saturday night was 46, and on Sunday was 48. I was overly warm in my 10 degree bag. Mornings felt a little chilly until we started moving. On summit day, the most I had to wear on top was a thin baselayer and a light waterproof, breathable shell. Sunny. Great visibility.

SMOKE: None to speak of on the mountain, except a light haze and smoky smell occurred at Trail Camp on Sunday between about 6 and 8 p.m.

SNOW FIELDS: Others have written about this exhaustively (I know because I read every single report compulsively before heading out). My friend, first timer on Whitney, with no snow skills, zipped confidently across all the fields using hiking poles and good boots. Me, I took out my ice ax at the last two snow fields on the switchbacks, and again at the summit field, because I liked the extra stability and safety measure. The footing is relatively easy (at least after the fields have been warmed by the sun), but as others have said, the drop off is significant, especially on that third snowfield on the switchbacks. By the way, I did see three men come up the chute using ice axes and crampons, and I believe they glissaded down after summitting (we saw fresh glissade tracks from the last snowfield on the switchbacks).

WATER ON THE TRAIL. There is plenty of water up to Trail Camp. There is a lot of water running on the switchbacks, both before and after the cables (which, by the way, have a channel that is completely clear of snow and therefore are easy to navigate). However, I only saw one place after the cables that one could reasonably collect water, at about altitude 13,100 or so (using a wrist altimeter), where water was running down a rock face -- would not count on it. I saw some folks at the Windows who had run out of water; some folks heading down gave them a little water, and then they were able to harvest water from snowmelt at the beginning of the summit snowfield, but folks probably should not count on that either.

JULY 23 PORTAL TO TRAIL CAMP
Saw Bob R. when I was picking up permits, but he was in civilian clothes, so sadly did not say hello, and then he was gone a few minutes later when I confirmed with a ranger what I already knew. (Hi Bob!) Talked with Doug Sr. at the Portal, who then introduced me to Quillansculpture and Bulldog (whom I had been hoping to meet this trip). Used the Old Trail to bypass water crossings. Met Wazzu, flying her freak flags, shortly after entering the Whitney Zone (I was flying mine as well!). Beautiful hike up to Trail Camp, with terrific weather the entire time.

JULY 24 TRAIL CAMP TO SUMMIT AND BACK
Could not ask for better conditions or visibility. This was my second trip up to the summit, and the conditions made the views far more dramatic and breathtaking. I'll post some pictures later, though I think they may be redundant of other photos posted recently by others. We did see some situations that verged on serious, including the above-noted water shortage.

JULY 25 TRAIL CAMP TO PORTAL
We zoomed down the mountain and I think we accidentally stumbled on one of Bob R's shortcuts. Then took the Old Trail back to the Portal.

THOUGHTS ON DOING WHITNEY A SECOND TIME. Seemed easier this time, and the hiking sections went far faster. Because of the snow conditions, was a completely different hike -- visually, far more dramatic. Loved running into folks I only know by reputation until this point.

Congratulations! Thank you for the great trip report. This is very helpful. Planning on doing my first trip up over Labor Day.

Fabulous! I did my first summit on Labor Day last year! Trip report here: First Timer Trip Report

congratulations !

I knew the Diamox was a big issue as we had discussed it before. Glad you did well and reported the details.

Thanks. Harvey

Thanks, Harvey. Thought often during this trip of great advice you have given me and others.

Okay, now for photos. So as not to be redundant, I am leaving out classic "Whitney Views" photos and photos of the snowfields on the switchbacks, etc.

First, here are some photos from our acclimatization hikes.

This is Ruby Lake, accessible from the Mosquito Flat Trailhead, on the way to Mono Pass.


This is a view climbing up to Morgan Pass, accessible from the same trailhead.



Upper Morgan Lake, with my gorgeous pup in front.



View from Morgan Pass, looking toward Mono Pass


Now, onto Whitney. We were treated to some Alpenglow on our first morning at Trail Camp.



Lots of flowers on the switchbacks.





Climbers coming up the chute



From the summit snowfield.



Marmot seeks lunch


Flying the freak flag(s)


Lion fire affects visibility on the way down


Sunrise this morning (Monday)


Smoke in Owens Valley, but we didn't really notice it when we got down there.

Are these flowers the Sky Pilots? (as shown earlier by Harvey)

Was there any noticeable fragrance to the flowers?

Sky Pilots appear to be out in force this year.

From this web page USFS: Celebrating Wildflowers

I did not realize there were so many varieties. The others aren't nearly as striking as our southern Sierra variety.



Great trip report Akichow, and very nice pictures, too. Loved the one at Ruby Lake. One year, I hiked around it and south toward Mills Lake, and that stream flowing into Ruby Lake had some of the prettiest spots I can remember. ...map...

CONGRATULATIONS on your summit!!! Next year you will be one of those glissading down the snow chute after your summit!!!!
It was a pleasure meeting you before you headed out for your adventure. Glad to hear that everything went well!

Blessings,
Lady Bulldawg

Great TR and photos.