Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2016 (Out-of-Date)

10 hours car to car is faster than 90% of Whitney day hikers. It's blazing.

8-10. I've lost count. Thrice backpacking, at least once via the MR, and the others were dayhiking.

Thanks Richard, didn't quite blaze it this time, but we'll see in the future.

This was posted on Instagram by Cam A on Oct 18:

I can think of a few places along TC where anything north of 60mph winds (looking at you Windows) even as a gust would be far from pleasant.

That said, her pole is retracted, and i dont see cramps or micros on the feet. Re current conditions, freak blizzards aside ok to roll with just micros or are spikes necessary?

Des

No crampons necessary yet. I don't think microspikes are much help until you get a layer of snow on the trail.

This picture shared on Instagram yesterday by "b.a.a.n."



click on it for a larger view.

Posted by Phonexay Keobandith on FB. from Oct. 20.

Nice Ice:

Hi Steve,

I have a permit to Hike Whitney this weekend and I wanted your input. Will we need crampons or will mini spikes suffice?
Based on: http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-Whitney/forecasts/4418
It says there will be a heavy snowfall on Thursday night / maybe friday... its changed this past week from 21" down to 16"

Would it be better if we wait to hike till the following weekend? Or will it just be worse ice at that point?

The mountain-forecast site always predicts way more than reasonable amounts of snow. You should also check the NOAA site at the top of the Whitney Weather page (link above on the left). I think they are way more accurate.

Here's for about Trail Camp,   this for the summit.

The summit weather looks crazy: Sunday, high ~38, wind gusts to 65 mph!!!

I would wait out the storm, and go later. With a few inches of snowfall, mini spikes on the trail would be helpful.

Mini spikes...hmmm...last winter 3 people died in SoCal with "mini spikes" affixed to their feet while hiking on trails, the 4th he did not think ice required anything...just saying.

Winter is winter. If you don't have a winter skill set, you are at risk. A winter skill set would tell you 16" to 21" of unconsolidated snow requires snowshoes and the best route to the summit most likely be via the Chute using that skill set with Crampons...not mini spikes and ice axe...not trekking poles.

A 5 minute youtube video on self arrest does not constitute a winter skill set.

Thanks for your helpful response Steve!
No worries here - we all do have ice axes/gear, but that's more for future trips when we've had more training for mountaineering and have had classes. We were just hoping with the hot year Whitney wouldn't be bad... but weather is weather! We are definitely about safety and not doing things unless we are prepared.

Thanks again

If you're still able to go the following weekend as you wrote above, and only a few inches of snow falls, as the NOAA (more reliable) forecasts predict, then crampons and ice axes will be useless, but microspikes might be just the ticket.

Later in winter, and in springtime, after we really do get those 21" of snow, then using those winter technical gear is highly recommended. When there is only a minor amount of snow (as we have so far), microspikes (or just good hiking boots) will do just fine.

So far, the Mt Whitney Main Trail isn't quite as treacherous as the icy conditions in the SoCal peaks last winter.

Posted from the last several days (end of October, 2016) on Instagram by gutsovermatter

"This was our summit today. Trail Crest 13,600 ft
We made the decision as a group to turn back for safety reasons. Overall it was an awesome adventure in the snow."





Also posted, video near Trail Camp:
caption: Wait for it.....watch Mother Nature at her finest.  Strong winds then complete silence.
(click picture for video)

Posted on Instagram by _jackli

Proper attire for Mt. Whitney in November.

Went up on Saturday attempting an overnight. Abandoned just below Iceberg around 7:00pm and came back down that night. The Thursday storm had apperantly dumped alot above LBSL but rain came Friday and took a bunch of the snow out according to a group I met who had spent a few days backpacking up in the area. It was snowing alot above UBSL Saturday night but was quite warm. A large majority of the ice and snow between UBSL and LBSL had disappeared in a few hours. Winds were gusting pretty good on and off, sometimes it was dead still and others was like a hurricane. Major postholing and falling between rocks in drifty spots above UBSL was making movement difficult.

Suspect roughly the same conditions on MWT but without the postholing between rocks problem since there is more of a trail to work with. The MR didn't really have any sort of followable trail at the time. Sunday's weather has probably changed conditions a bit.

Basic snowcover directly East of Whitney windows:



It wasnt very cold, but the snow/rain was off and on. Used a weather shell top with soft shell pants and gaiters and microspikes. Weather was plenty warm.

Started Friday 10/28 the day after the initial storm. 10/29 made it to trailcamp 9am with high winds and ice beginning on trail above mirror lake. micro spikes were the order of the day. new storm was moving in 10/30 so we decided to abandon back to trailhead. without a heavy snowfall microspikes are the ticket at least until trailcrest then crampons with snowshoes potentially dangerous or at least useless. there was water available at trailside meadow just before trailcamp. tempos were unusually warm forecast for 40 but probably in mid 50s. It is said the winter weather is unpredictable and that is an understatment as the only good info is here or on the trail as you are going up.

Posted on Instagram by emilyabriner

Reported "Coldest I've ever been! Trail Camp at 12K feet on Mt. Whitney! We "slept" in the tent through the craziest wind/snow storm! It actually destroyed our mountaineering tent with three people inside."

Jon from Sierra Elevation Climbing in Lone Pine reported today, Nov 2:

"We have a great weather window now. A handful of folks up attempting today. (Hikers are) coming down w reports of knee deep drifts and other areas that were scoured of ice and snow, just bare trail.

Not much consolidation yet so idk if the ice axe would be worth he carry but trekking poles and foot traction would be expected."

This weekend looks for very nice weather for attempts! Is anyone using a Bear Canister right now?

Bear canisters are to keep the little critters out of your food. You need one if you spend a night anywhere on the trail.