Mt Whitney Zone Forums Reference Older Trail Conditions - Mt Whitney Trail, 2021

There were several glissading the chute when I was there, but in several more weeks, the snow may be so thin and melted out that you might be in a postholing mess.

Thanks on the permit offer, but best thing to do is return it online so someone else can use it.

Hey,

I was wondering if the lake a trail camp was melted enough when you were up there to filter water so I can save some weight on the way up?

Thanks

Completely melted -- no ice. But it's the lowest I have ever seen it. Cleanest water is at switchback 25, 1/4 up the 99 switchbacks. I used/drank over a gallon, untreated, from that spot over the 3 nights I was at Trail Camp.

I'd be up to help you Steve! I've been through the cables in the snow and it's a fun little spot at 2 in the morning when you've never done it before.

I'll bring my snow blower and a hair dryer and we'll have that section cleared in no time.

Severe Weather Advisory - Mt. Whitney 5/20/2021 - 5/22/2021

Going to be cold and windy up there this weekend.

Heading out at about 9am on Saturday with an overnight at trail camp.

Be safe and prepared if you’re heading out this weekend.

Hey Mike-Sth. African, I'd love to hear what kind of conditions you encountered as you headed out into the area with cold windy weather in the forecast. I've been up several times and always hoped for a little weather, but never encountered anything much to write home about. Hope you had a great time.

Day hiked the Main Whitney trail 5/24. Began around 2am and finished around 6pm (slow on the way down due to some people having symptoms from altitude sickness). Our group used trekking poles and microspikes which were adequate, although some sections along the switchbacks were still slightly sketchy. The two snowy/icy sections along the switchbacks are the cables and the 80ft section right before trail crest.

[imgphotos.google.com/photo/AF1QipO_vvycNKNzozyVKCCKpWpO_Fe_zkaROJDeFFcX[/img]

[img]https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOUmSSnVC6yBCYX2ZLkPRf_P18ZnV2PSj1lKGpk[/img]

[img]https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPW8CyFVbci-MC3r997joz_ceBh8Q5xXcF8gKug[/img]

[img]https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOFgmC1Eoi6N-N7HNxqJWNEWDmU4vlmvua6ZO3w[/img]

[img]https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOSkP6wkdTtM7JNF7eQcud_RJxhM75zhIEYUt64[/img]

Hey Big Red … don’t know how to post pics here … but it was an adventure … about an hour before trail camp was completely snowed out at about 5pm on Saturday afternoon … it started snowing lightly at outpost and then about 1 hr from trail camp I couldn’t make out the trail and had to venture really slowly … about 20 min before trail camp some folks coming down late had laid down tracks that I could follow in …

It was quite the evening with high wind and snow… luckily we had 0 degrees bags and NF mountaineering tent … and woke up to a clear awesome morning on Sunday.

Heading down the snow was melting already … I’m sure there will be great conditions this week.

Even saw a party of 5 heading up the chute around 7:30am on Sunday morning ….

I'm heading up on Friday and will take some photos and post my trip here. I will probably start around midnight from the portal parking lot if the switchbacks have ice/snow on them...this way I can see the switchbacks clearly with the sunrise around 5:30. I may start late Thursday night if the snow has cleared/melted by then. I'll check back here before I head up to see if there are any updates on the switchbacks.

Thanks for the update about your trip.

Nate

Benc, thanks for posting. I'd like to see the pictures, but the links you provided don't work. If you can post a link to the group of pictures, maybe I can get a link to them that works.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hhEgVDr1gQGP69VXA

This link should work.

Benc, thanks. Here are some of the pics. Hope I get the location right...
I really appreciate your sharing these pictures. They go a long way showing everyone the trickiest parts of the switchbacks. Thanks so much!!

Also glad to see the shoveled section at the cables is remaining clear. The recent snowfall added some iciness, but otherwise, it's a good path.

Just below the cables:


At the Cables, looking east


At the Cables, looking east


Top section of the cables


Above the cables. It's a short scramble to get up this spot


The section near Trail Crest

I hiked with a group of friends on 5/30. Thank you Steve C for clearing the snow on the cables section. We came across packed ice on a couple of switchbacks right after the cables section which made navigating those switchbacks tricky. But the weather is warm and snow is melting. There is a stream on the lower sections of the switchbacks. Please watch your footing on those sections.Most of the remaining sections of the trail are snow free.
Lot of friendly hikers on the trail which made the hike very enjoyable.

Summited at sunrise today. 3 or 4 patches of icy packed snow when we passed the cables around 2:45 am, but it all melted quite a bit as the sun came out. Some of it was easily passed slush by the time we came down. I think it’ll keep melting/freezing/melting/freezing for a few more weeks. Ranger said today’s weather was more typical of mid-July.

I went up yesterday. Those who leave Trail Camp early might encounter some ice on the trail. Otherwise, there is hardly any snow or ice anywhere. We left the cars at 5:15 AM and just walked up with ordinary boots.

Thanks for the info Bob!

Did you go up the MR? If so, any Intel on the final 400' ice coverage would be greatly appreciated. I'm going up in the 10th.

I prefer the MR, but we took the trail this time. We met a couple who had just done the MR. Ice axe and crampons are still necessary in the couloir, but much of the snow was getting soft. I don’t think they encountered much snow or ice on the final 400.

Thanks Bob!

We summited on July 2nd.

We left our hotel in Lone Pine around 2:45. We were at Whitney Portal a bit after 3am. We started our hike at 3:20. The temperature was in the 50s. I had long hiking pants on which I rolled up and back down as needed during the hike. I had a non-cotton t-shirt on, which I augmented with a long sleeved non-cotton shirt, when I got a little cold. My down jacket went unused and was extra weight I didn't need (same with about 2lbs of food (of 4) I carried up and back down again.

The temperatures throughout the day were above the mid-fifties. There was no snow on the trail, but a little here and there on the sides.

Sunscreen and a hat with neck protection were really important for me. I should have done something about my lips, which are the main issue I am suffering from now, two days later (4th of July).

Hiking poles were immensely helpful. I don't know if it was a coincidence that every member of the group without hiking poles, also had swollen hands.

I had a 3 liter hydration pack which was 3/5 thirds full with ice tea before the switchbacks, and I did not refill there. In hindsight, I should have refilled there as I ran out of water on the way back down. I could have filled it to 1/2 for the walk up and refilled it numerous times, instead of carrying 6.6lbs of water around, earlier in the day.

The hike up wasn't easy, but it wasn't grueling either. We had arrived at Lone Pine on June 30th, hoping for some acclimation, but didn't realize that Lone Pine was only at 3700 of elevation. We did do a test hike on July 1 to Lone Pine lake which got us over 1000ft, but that wasn't a real test of our ability to handle 12-14K of altitude.

As I said, the trip up isn't bad. The pain and torture began on the way down, when every segment seemed to take longer and be farther than we recalled. The latter half really cures you from thinking that you'd repeat the hike anytime soon. It'll be a while before i am ready for another Whitney summit.

It took us about 17 hours roundtrip. We took many breaks, including almost two hours at the summit (where I made some hot tea). We probably should have rested a bit more on the way down too, but everyone had scared us into thinking that thunderstorms would get us. We saw no large clouds in the sky al day.

Any questions?

Good luck!!

Thank you for sharing your trip report as well as outlining how much food/water you used. That is helpful information.

I'm a big advocate of using trekking poles if you aren't habitually hiking big days without poles. One reason is that I have also noticed that my hands have less swelling when using poles.

I've always assumed that was due to both gravity and centrifugal force. I've also assumed that when one's hands are low at their side, it allows gravity to let blood pool in your hands. I figured the centrifugal force of swinging arms added to that. When I use poles my forearms stay perpendicular to the ground and both factors mitigate how swollen my hands get.

In addition to keeping hands from swelling as much, you are more stable, burn more calories, and just have a bit more margin for error.

I'm glad y'all made some tea at the top too. That seems like a nice treat for such a splendid spot.