Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board E Ledges on MR

All,

I would like to make an attempt on the summit via the Mountaineers Route in the next couple of weeks. I was up there in June and got up the the Ledges, just beyond that lone pine tree after the last crossing of North Fork of LP Creek. Anyway I wimped out at that point not being sure of the path beyond and what I saw looked pretty exposed. I guess if I had someone to follow then it wouldn't have been so intimidating.

Is there a way around the Ledges, say up the left side of the creek, or are the Ledges the only way up to LBSL and beyond?

OA

The ledges ARE the easiest and safest way up. Routefinding, although easy, is the key. There isn't anything that is really problematic, and there is no reason to be rushing either up or down.

Greetings OA...anyone who knows me from hiking also knows that I have a fear of exposure and also looking down from heights. The E-ledges aren't that bad (if you're not carrying a big pack)... I was up there a few days ago...there are so many cairns now that you couldn't possibly get lost and there's a really good trail formed. The North Fork is really running now and the bushes are huge, so you want to just follow the beaten path and you will be fine. I hope this helps.

Tracie

If the E-ledges bother you, some of the upper parts are going to bother you more. I suggest other hikes to get used to exposure prior to attempting an MR summit.

I had the same feeling as you when i got to the e-ledges. I got some great suggestions, such as an indoor climbing wall to gain confidence with heights, handholds, footholds, etc.

Thanks for your input. Unless I can find someone else making the trek the same day that I can follow up I will probably stick to the main trail this year. And that's not a bad thing! It's just that I have this thing about making a one day trip and the MR is quite a bit shorter. Anyway you look at it the air, thin though it may be, will at least be cleaner than what we have down here in SO Cal. Best wishes all.

It might be shorter, but you'll make better time on the main trail. And the third class on the ledges is as easy as third class gets.

I've been up on the ledges 4 times now, and it's pretty well marked once you get past the crossing. I found that the bigger problem was not the exposure or climbing per se, but climbing the ledges with a full pack on. That was more of an issue with me. I got around this by bringing some rope and just hoisting or lowering the pack, and than easily climbing up or down. The climbing is pretty easy. As a matter of fact, the part that I found difficult to climb with a full pack really doesn't present much exposure. The rope I bring is just some lightweight 8mm rope. Useful for alot of things probably. I only used the rope once though, and the last couple of times through I've managed to find small granite knobs to hang onto to give me a boost at the spot I found difficult.

The north fork is harder (>6000 ft in under 4 miles vs 11 miles on the main trail), but the straight-on, slap in the face view of Whitney and the Needles, not to mention Russell, Thor ect, is worth it. Especially as the sun is coming up. And I mean worth it even if you don't get to the top of anything. You can't get that view from the Main Trail.

Oh, and the few people you meet on that trail are always a pleasure. Especially some of the regulars. quite a group.

Good Luck.