Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Williamson conditions?

Looking to head up via Shepherd's Pass this weekend for a 1 or 2 night trip. I can see snow on the webcam but I've never been up there so can't really assess the hazard. I'm hoping I can save some weight leaving my ice ax and crampons at home. Has anyone been up recently who can shed some light on how it is up there? Looks like some rain is forecast for Lone Pine on Sat, so there might be some new accumulation by the time I'm there.

SP Trail is predominantly south facing and for the exception of the pass headwall not exposed. So I imagine the snow should be very melted out pending further storms.

I think that conditions past the pass will be marginal to miserable.

The way past the Pass is sandy to the Tyndall-Polychrome Col, shouldn't require more than micro-spikes up until this point.

Though I am more than open to correction, at this time of year there will be light snow cover in various reaches of the Williamson Bowl, and especially in the West Chute and the Chimney. Since the summer conditions are endless scralus, and generally cruddy, and due to the thin snow cover it won't be consolidated enough to justify crampons/axe but it will be deep enough to be dangerous and slippery.

You'll also be a long way from Kansas up there too

I'd wait a month or two until there is more snow, and some bona fide consolidated pack.

But that's just me.

Yeah, very fair point about the chute being full of slippery rocks. I don't want to sprain anything and get knocked out for the season. Might all the class 3 sections above 11k be like this right now in the Sierra due to the recent snow? Wonder if I could do Russell (also first time). Or maybe just turn this into a exploratory trip, without summiting anything.

Russell would be worth a shot. I don't think it's likely, but if you turn back on the E. Ridge, Mt. Carrillon is a moderate scramble and would be a nice consolation prize if Russell can't be reached.

I might attempt Russell as a day hike, then do an overnighter at Williamson just at Anvil Camp. The forecast is showing more precip though. The fun of shoulder seasons...

The Whitney Summit area forecast from NOAA shows light snow showers due all weekend. This might be a good weekend to pass on any high-altitude lone hikes.

One of my friends attempted the east ridge of Russell on Monday and turned back due to icy conditions. It's a 3rd class ridge but with some serious exposure. I would suggest Shepherd Pass and maybe go up Tyndall - a shorter/easier jaunt than SP to Williamson.