Three of us hiked from Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal last week. It was an amazing trip with a huge variety of scenery. And yes, we hiked down Mount Whitney during the July 29 storm, but we got down around 3:30, missing the worst of it.
As for conditions, there was a lot of snow around Kaweah Gap, but we hiked it easily in trail runners. Some of the creek crossings were exciting, but none of them were really scary. The worst were knee-deep and swift, others were avoided completely by crossing on logs. Trekking poles were a big help.
Mosquitoes were a constant presence, but they were only really bothersome on the Chagoopa Plateau, in Junction Meadow, and in the Upper Kern.
Here are my photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelvieira/sets/72157627335579242/And here are my friend's photos:
http://pallant.smugmug.com/Sierra-Mountains/High-Sierra-Trail/As for photos showing conditions, here they are:
Crossing Hamilton Lake outlet (July 25):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelvieira/5999536056/Snow above Precipice Lake (July 25):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelvieira/5999050159/Approaching Kaweah Gap (July 25):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelvieira/5999045959/Trail crossing of Big Arroyo Creek (July 25):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelvieira/5999689308Crossing Funston Creek (July 26):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelvieira/5999234653/Crossing Wright Creek (July 28):
http://pallant.smugmug.com/Sierra-Mountains/High-Sierra-Trail/18325095_kKS2WS#1411039737_R6hf5NNMushroom cloud of smoke from Lion Fire (July 28):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelvieira/5999883578/Storm clouds brewing from the top of the 99 switchbacks (July 29):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelvieira/5999389091/Mount Whitney from Trail Camp during the storm (July 29):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelvieira/5999398119/Enjoy! I hope these photos help people plan their trips. I got a lot of help from others' previous trip reports.
