I am hoping someone can give some better insight for people who are not experienced with snow and actually climbing a mountain?
My boyfriend and I are planning on heading up next Wednesday to do Whitney in a day on Thursday June 29.
Both of us work together very well on trails. He was more of a local trail hiker and I had already completed most of the 6 summit challenge. The only one I had left was Gorgonio. He did better then I did on Gorgonio but we got through it together. We've done other silly hikes after Gorgonio but nothing as big.
I've been wanting to do Whitney for 4 years now. I finally have the permit but I'm nervous of her condition. We are experienced day hikers but not necessarily mountaineers. I feel like he has more survival knowledge then I do. We may be able to buy the gear but that doesn't make us professionals. We both will have waterproof shoes, the in between of micro spikes and actual crampons, our camelbak, I have hiking poles and he has an ice ax. We can come prepared with food and water and clothing. However I am nervous about the chute.
Seeing as it's clear the switch backs won't be ready. Are there people that are experienced that would say we could do it while being safe? We have 5 kids to make it back to and I want to be safe. I'm not comfortable with glissading because we have never done it and I am not interested in dying. (Not saying people who glissading will die I'm saying maybe we should leave it to the experienced to do) Is the chute able to be climbed up and walked down? Without full size crampons and an ice ax? I hope these questions will help others that also are not experienced with snow and climbing. Seeing as Whitney without snow is a completely different story then Whitney with snow.
Also are there any other people doing her in a day next Thursday? Thank you for your time.
