Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion West side approach on July 13 with Boy Scouts

I plan on attempting Whitney on July 13 from Guitar Lake with some very experienced Scouts/Scout sibling (two have over 1000 miles hiked in Boy Scouts, all can hike 30 to 50 miles/day). I will have 4 boys and one girl eager to summit, but it is my responsibility to ensure we do not take excessive risk.

If the route requires more than micro spikes we will be skipping our summit attempt.

What equipment is expected to be necessary for a summit of Whitney on July 13? Is it likely to require more than micro spikes? Will micro spikes be necessary?

Thanks

The JMT along the crest is already settling down, and people are saying there are only a few dicey spots. By mid-July, the only snow left will be the patch below the summit hut, and that doesn't have any exposure. Your scouts will be safe.

Are you hiking back to the west, or exiting the Main Trail?

Good luck! It sounds like quite the experienced group.

30 to 50 miles a day? With a pack? 0.o

As for the exit ...

We are going all the way to Yosemite Valley at a somewhat casual pace (not due to the boys, due to the 2 adults - mostly the other adult :=).

Last time the boys did this trip in 14 days but we are taking 22 days this time (including a layover day at Vermillion/Mono Hot Springs).

Last Sunday we did San G from South Fork TH (~22 miles, 4700' gain). One boy the next morning ran 7 miles.

It is a harder day than any we have planned for this trip but our packs will be heavier on this backpack trip. Especially the two opening stretches (Horseshoe Meadow to Bubbs Creek, Bubbs Creek to Vermillion) the packs will be heavier as the resupply points are spread out.

One boy plans to bring a ukulele (he is also the one with ~1500 miles with the troop so I have zero concerns).

Entry July 11, Whitney July 13.

So the crest is expected to be clear. What about the approach from Guitar Lake? Is it also expected to be clear? Leave the micro spikes?

We finished the JMT yesterday starting at Horseshoe Meadow on July 11 and had 2 slack days at VVR (mostly spent at Mono Hot Springs). I had to evict the other adult at Taboose Pass (too slow, we would have run out of food). Four Scouts completed the entire hike and one Scout exited with their parent and came back in (missed around 50 miles).

- Some of the Southern Passes had some challenges. Muir Pass had close to 6 miles of snow (1/3 South side, 2/3 North Side)
- Mosquitos were bad in Southern section.
- Route to Whitney did not reflect a high snow year. It was similar to my other 3 Whitney summits.
- 3 Scouts did Mt Muir.
- Lots of Yahoos in Yosemite area.
- I think they need to provide permits for the Mist trail. Even on a Thursday the crowds exceeded safe capacity.
- Many of the North bound JMT hikers bailed out. Most of the PCT hikers were making slow progress in the Southern section of JMT.
- Special thanks to Pebbles who lent us his ice ax.

It was an experience that I will never forget.

Congrats on the achievement!!

I may be doing the whole JMT next year (done the start, end, and a little bit in the middle (about a yard near Mammoth lakes )).




I agree it can get pretty crowded. Maybe they should make it one way in the peak summer season.