Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board San Gorgonio-Vivian Creek

Hard to find many good updates on the so cal hiking message boards. Has anyone hiked Mt. San Gorgonio - Vivian Creek trail in the last week. Looking for trail conditions in regards to snow shoes, crampons, etc. Rangers are recommending crampons and ice axes above 9,600', trying to find out if this is overkill.

this guy posted he did SG on 5-28. He did not have pons, some did. If you don't mind the weight and are training bring you can bring it and count it as training weight.
I'm going to bivy on SG next Saturday and I am not bringing pons or axe. I might bring my microspikes just in case they don't weigh anything....See guys' pics and TR below from the guy who did SG on 5-28

http://members.boardhost.com/sgva/msg/1306641256.html

I hiked up 2 weeks ago to the summit of San G. to get ready for Whitney. I used my crampons briefly in 1 spot between halfway camp and high creek, and that was just to take a shortcut up through the snow. The trail was great until I reached high creek and then you're pretty much left on your own to find your way due to the snow covering the trail. In the dozen or so hikers that were headed up to the summit only a couple were wearing their crampons. That was two weeks ago and the snow is melting fast (I can see San G. from my kitchen window). You will definitely get into some snow but I wouldn't bring crampons. I might bring the axe (just to be safe) when descending from the summit towards high creek but it certainly wouldn't be mandatory. You can go on to Mt. San Gorgonio Backcounty Bulletin Board (see Melissa's thread 6/2/11) regarding crampons...yes/no. The first couple miles of the vivian creek trail always keeps me humble, hah! Have fun.

You can see San Gorgonio from your Kitchen window, lucky!!!!! I can see Baldy if I walk down the street and stand on my tip toes...

Thanks everyone! I have to think that the snow will be beaten down at this point along the main trail. Would snowshoes help in these conditions, or simply hiking boots with some waterproofing. Probably be wet. Yeah, that first 1 1/4 miles in brutal. I always warn people that the rest of the hike is much more enjoyable.