Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2017 (Out-of-Date)

mtnlover1990 on that "other" message board gave a condition up date on the MR:



Anybody have more recent info? My brother and I are contemplating an attempt in a few weeks.

Posted on Instagram, Dec 20, 2017, by Ryley F


Lone Pine Lake

Mario T made it to the summit Dec 20.

He wrote on FB:
I made it to the summit yesterday. The weather changed yesterday majorly and made the Mt Whitney trail conditions a bit more difficult There is plenty of ice on the trail starting around 8500 elevation and going to about 10 000 ft elevation. After that snow is consistent all the way up the summit. The night before last night I slept on the Mt Whitney Trail Crest and the wind was pretty dramatic. The temperature dropped below - 20F( that was the max on my keychain) and stayed consistently like that over 13000 ft throughout the day yesterday. The snow is very firm on higher elevation so micro spikes or crampons are helpful. Ice axe is a given. Happy Trails and Happy Holidays!

His picture:

Hey Snacking Bear! Did you ever check out the MR? Have anything to report?

I'm looking at heading out there next weekend. If there ever was a way to bring in the new year... this sure seems like it.

Long time lurker, infrequent poster here. I just noticed this trip report on FB from the main trail last week (12/28/2017). Very little snow, looks like trail runners were ok, but not for long if the forecasted storm arrives tomorrow.





The trip report here:

https://stevensong.com/usa/california/mount-whitney/

bluewater: Thanks so much for sharing the link!

"stevensong" posted a lot of good pictures showing the conditions of all the important places. Sure wish more hikers would share like that. He also has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/icyicefield/

So true that conditions like he reported are probably already gone. I noticed on the webcam views that there was significant snowfall above 10,000' just yesterday (Sat, Jan 6, 2018).

I appreciate all of the valuable information here on the WZ. I check in regularly and might actually have something to add after a trip next weekend. . .

Are you going next week to Mt Whitney? That will be a very cool thing.:-)

I was planning on going this weekend, and may still go depending on conditions, but the Inyo County Sheriff's Office posted this info on their FB page today. . .

Inyo County Sheriff's Office

UPDATED INYO COUNTY ROAD INFORMATION

Whitney Portal Road, closed due to snow and rocks in the roadway, will re-evaluate after the storm
Onion Valley Road, closed due to snow, will re-evaluate after the storm
South Lake Road, above Bishop Creek Lodge, closed for the season
North Lake Road, closed for the season
Sabrina Road, closed for the season
Horseshoe Meadows Road, closed at the gate, closed for the season
Rock Creek Lakes Road, closed at the snow park, closed for the season
White Mountain Road, open as of today

With this photo:

Does anyone have any updated information on conditions? I was hoping to summit in the next week or two. Is Whitney Portal Road currently open?

Try calling Inyo County road dept: 760-878-0202
Ask if that gate is still locked. Pls let us know what you hear.