Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2015 (Out-of-Date)

I am planning to summit via the main trail on Friday June 5th. Do you think I will need micro spikes to get up to the summit? I know there was a lot of snow but hoping that much of it will melt by the time I get there. Also, because of the snowmelt, how are the stream crossings? This is my first ascent and I appreciate any tips.

Thanks!

Cool. Thanks. Where can u rent bear cannisters?

Will Whitney be skiable around the 15th? I know there was recent snowfall, but have no idea how long it will hold up.

Doubtful that it will be skiable then, let alone now, unless you want to thrash your skis on rocks.

I got excited about the snow this past weekend and put my skis in my car, but there wasn't any white stuff until 11000+ feet. Not much fell the past weekend, just a couple inches. The warmth has probably already melted it away.

The north face of Tyndall (slope at 12-14k feet) had rock patches, ice patches, and super soft mushy snow. I'm an avid backcountry skier and was glad I didn't have my skis with me.

Doug at the Whitney Portal Store posted an update on his message board:

Biggest takeaway: the importance of sun protection. Sunglasses are mandatory when hiking over snow!!! Sunburned eyes hurt for days, and feel like you have a load of sand in the eye.

Steve, based on this latest report, would it be feasible that crampons wouldn't be necessary a little over a week from now?

UV bouncing up from the snow can burn the insides of your nostrils. Don't even think about hiking naked.

Planning to overnight on June 10th. I've been trying to find a report of the conditions at Trail Camp. Does anyone know if/expect trail camp to have snow then/now? I have a fairly light weight sleeping pad and will definitely need another layer of insulation under if it's going to be snowed in.

Thanks!

As a first time soloist, non-car camping adventure, and Whitney visitor I found this forum to be invaluable in preparing me for my attempt. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful and fell prey to poor choice in assault timing. Rather than start up the chute early in the morning I opted to witness the sunrise over trail camp not thinking that the hard packed snow would start to melt making progress increasingly more difficult (rookie mistake.) I made it fairly far up the chute, but was post holing up to my waist and at times chest. Conditions continued to deteriorate and although not tired my concern was getting down safely and as such opted to turn back.

So for those beginners, first timers, or the otherwise unaware hit the slope early if the switchbacks are unpassable, your pack weight should be mostly water, and as earlier discussed sunscreen, lip balm, and glasses are a must!

As for the reason I missed my early start - can't say i'm too disappointed with the view

Jbabs: Hard to say. But if you check the prior page, you can see AEC reported, "We did it with just poles (maybe not recommended but doable). I think most other people had crampons and ice axes." Yet DJB was happy for all the tools.

With the next week's weather forecast (highs in the 40s), lots of that snow will be melting. And with Frankie Bones trouble on the slope west of the switchbacks, I'd guess people will be using the switchbacks by the time you go. Hiking poles and microspikes on the switchbacks would be my personal choice, but that is not a final recommendation by any means. (I've been called sure-footed by others on this forum.)

AndrewC: I would guess the sun and hikers before you will have cleared many tent sites at Trail Camp by then.

I did Whitney today via the main trail. Aside from a few minor patches, the snow line is now approx 13K'. As far as I could tell, everyone was using the chute for ascending/descending. I looks like someone did the switchbacks several days ago, but no recent traffic. Right now the trail is snow-covered above 13K, including the west side (other side of Trail Crest).

Would you say the switchbacks are viable?


I'm going up in about a week. Will a party that isn't using micros/crampons be able to make the summit?

Even though the snow is melting fast, I would say that would be optimistic. If a group were to open up the switchbacks, then maybe only micros would be sufficient on that portion of the trail. However, it would be difficult for most to do the chute without crampons. You could use just micros after trailcrest because the traffic is concentrated in one path.

There were lots of PCT-er's who'd come up from Crabtree, and I didn't see any wearing traction. There were some careful foot placement...

Doug uses a rule of thumb this time of year of melting at the rate of 500' a week.

Here's a picture from a group at the summit, May 30.

They reported using ice axe and microspikes. Many were using crampons.

Thanks for the report, Kevin! If the snow level is about 13K, it sounds like Trail Crest is pretty much free of snow. Is that what you found?

I start the HST on June 17, hoping to summit on June 22. Would you carry micros or crampons if you were doing the same?

Looks like there's snow showers in the forecast for this weekend.

I'm a newbie to Whitney and my group is heading out June 16th, planning to camp for two nights on the way up and head for the summit on the 18th. As this is our first time, a couple of questions:

Given the date we plan to summit and the expected conditions, how likely is it that we'll need crampons? I know it's still two weeks out but just wanted to get a general idea.

I'm seeing some posts that refer to an alternate route that doesn't use the switchbacks - is that correct, and if so, what advice can you give us on using that route?

Thanks so much in advance!

Steve,

Hi. Long time no talk to. Say, in a post a ways back you say, "mountain-forecast.com excluded" regarding weather forecasts. Mind if I ask why it's being excluded?

Anything in particular about that site of interest? A colleague checks that site regularly regarding an upcoming hike, so just wondering.

Thanks!

Good questions. I will be climbing with a friend the same date with the same overnight plans