Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Trail conditions in late june

I am planning a 2 night trip this summer. I may have to go around June 30. Will we need crampons and ice axes? I have hiked Mt Baldy many times, sometimes with light snow/ ice with microspikes. Will microspikes do the job?

If there is still snow/ice on the MR, you will need ice-axe and crampons...and know how to use them, including a lot of practice. Microspikes might be ok for Mt. Baldy, but not the MR on Mt. Whitney.

A climbing helmet is also a good thing to wear, because of loose rock during the time you want to do this.

Check this out: http://www.summitpost.org/mountaineer-s/155528

It's hard to say, even this close to spring, how much thawing will have occurred by late June.

To give you some idea, when we had that heavy winter snowfall 2(?) years ago, the first day that people were able to use the switchbacks was July 13.

On the other hand, some years it's smooth sailing, no microspikes needed for the main trail, long before June 30.

Thanks for the info. I forgot to say, but we are hiking up the main trail.

I have a feeling that by late June, the trail will be mostly ice free. ...but that is just my hunch. It depends yet on what storms are left to come, how much they dump on Whitney, and how much hot weather comes before your hike.

We won't know for sure until then, so keep checking in. I hope people will post trip reports that will help you out.