Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Alternate route above the notch on MR

If a relatively inexperienced (but well-conditioned) friend wants to pass on the first chute to the left above the MR's "notch," I've heard that following the contour line a bit beyond the notch, then doing a U-turn to the summit plateau, is a viable option.

This option is definitely no-no when there's snow/ice, but if there is none, is this OK? Or might this involve *more* exposure than one of the chutes?

BTW, if I'm inundating you folks with too many questions, I'm leaving for Lone Pine tomorrow -- so I'll leave you alone until next year.

Thanks, and happy trails,
– Size 14 narrow

Bob has best answered this question over the years with this photo:



All are viable options.

Looks a lot different from this angle. I don't remember climbing up that!.................................DUG

I've been up the 2nd chute a couple of times and think it's actually a better option than the 1st chute that everyone uses. Seemed like there was less loose rock and easier climbing. If there's a bunch of people in the 1st chute I would opt for the second one. Further over around the 3rd chute I encountered difficulty (during a winter ascent) and had to back off. If you continue far enough to the west you can simply cut up to the top following a ducked use trail. So numerous options if you don't want to use the 1st chute.

Can someone point out "Wayne's Chimney" on this photo ?

Thanks

This is a crude representation but Wayne's Chimney is approx. where the red circle is here:



If you are ascending the rocks on the right side of the first chute, you will see a very large rock close to the summit. Go to the right of that rock (you almost go under the rock as it hangs over a bit) and you will see a chimney that leads right to the top.

Thanks. Great info, Picture and description.