Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion 2012 Whitney Hike Calendar

Greetings all, John and Barbara here from Bakersfield. I thought I'd tell about our hike plans for next week. My second trip this year, been up a couple of times in prior years and on the MWT several times. Barbara has never been all the way so Lord willing this will be the time. We'll spent Wed. night Oct. 3 at the portals. Go to outpost camp for Thursday night. We are extreamly slow hikers, average about 1 mph, Barb has delicate knees, and we are in just above average condition. And we're old 57 & 63. Never been up this time of year so are probably taking too much warm gear.I pack 50+ lbs and Barb about 25. Leave Outpost Friday when the ice melts at stream crossing before Mirror lake, bout 7. then up the steps to trail camp. Outpost to the summit is just too much for us in one day,tried that. leave trail camp about 5 am Sat.(I'm already shivering) plan on 10 to 12 hour to the summit and back. Sat. night at trail camp and back down Sunday am. Don't expect much ice on the switchbacks if the weather continues as forecast. Don't have microspikes but probably would bring if I had them. have a good marmott tent, 20degree northface bags and am buying fleece liners today. wearing poly base layer, 2 mid fleece layers, wind/rain jacket and down coat.Fleece head covering, silk bottoms and pants. gloves. If you're up you'll pass us and we'll move over and say hi. God bless.

Coming up Friday November 9th. Main Trail. Sleeping at the portal Friday, Trail Camp Saturday, summit Saturday weather permitting of course.

Fly in to Vegas @ lunchtime on Nov. 6, 2012. Return flight is Nov. 12. On arrival, travel immediately to the Portal on the 6th to acclimate overnight, double back to Lone Pine on the morning of the 7th to pick up an overnight permit and then hit the trail. Overnight somewhere on the trail.

1.Bringing microspikes. 2. Will crampons be needed? 3. Can I drive to the Portal to park? 4. Anyone else going between Nov. 7-11?

Comments?

Thanks,
BamaFireman

1 & 2) Probably not. I was up there November 4 of 2010 which was a really good year for snow, and it didn't really do anything. Snow is too soft for the crampons to do any good. Microspikes will help when the trail is icy.
3) Most likely.
3) I wish.

You will be there 2 days earlier than I but yes I will be there between Nov
7-11. I think this time of year you should be prepared to bring or seek out crampons and possibly an ice axe especially if it snows much between now and your summit date. Hopefully you will get a few replies from those who have done the trail under winter conditions and can offer firsthand experience. Hope to bump into you next month.

Scott

Could you elaborate about the snow being too soft to need crampons. Keep in mind I have never used Microspikes but use my crampons often. Having said that I would love to not carry the crampoms and digress to your experience.

Scott,
See this youtube video of a rescue exactly two years ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsW050TIsv8

I've uploaded two pictures from my trip that year as well:
http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/galleries/28623#Post28623

The first one is from the west side. The second one is near the top of Trail Crest.

We had a sh*t load more snow at that time than this year. I was lucky enough to meet a marine who I was able to hike with that day. He carried an ice axe and it never came out for him to use. Both he and I only used our trekking poles. There was hardly an consolidated snow to sink the axe in or for the crampons to bite into. There was a lot of postholing going on. I still remember when we got near the summit, we started boulder hopping every opportunity we got to avoid sinking knee to waist deep in snow. Your crampons will most likely be kicking powder much of the way.

The Micros aren't great for steep and hard snow because those spikes simply aren't adequate enough like the front points of your crampons. However, they are great for mild grades and icy trails. I brought crampons on that trip, and the marine brought the Micros. The crampons didn't give me any advantage over him, and I only had it on from the Trail Camp to Trail Crest. I was crawling back to the Portal at night because the entire trail was iced over, but only a thin layer. You'll be tripping all over yourself with the crampons and grating all over granite the entire way. It was faster and less dangerous IMO to simply slowly walk on the icy patches or dodge them when I could.

Of course, this is all just my opinion.

2600fromatari

I really appreciate the detailed post and pictures. Sent you a PM and hope to chat some more.

day hike Whitney on Oct 28, Sunday. Flying into San Diego and hike Boundary Peak in NV on Oct 27, staying at Whitney Portal Hostel on Oct 27 night and climb Whitney on the 28th.

Looking for partners and some information after this early week storm.

-Alex
email: sunmeng0421@hotmail.com