Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mt. Russell East Ridge Current Conditions

Hi -

Wondering if anyone's been up to Mt Russell's east ridge lately and knows what the conditions are like?

Heading out to the area in a week and hoping to make it up to Mt. Russell

curiousgeorge,

A friend of mine just climbed Mt. Russell via the Fishhook Arete and descended the East Ridge. Most of the route is north facing. We've had a low snow year but the snow that has fallen is sticking around at the higher elevations. You'll see snow on the route. On the ridge proper it'll be dry but the north facing side will have snow. I'd bring crampons and an ice axe.

I don't have any pix from the trip they just did but the conditions sound very similar to a normal year in June. Here is a photo gallery of an early June trip. There is definitely less snow approaching the ridge. On the ridge it'll look similar to these pix: Mt. Russell East Ridge June 5-6, 2010.

Kurt - Thanks so much for the beta. Very helpful. I'll update this thread some time next week after my friend and I get back.

Curious,
I hope to be on Russell this weekend as well. I will keep an eye out for you.

Kurt (or others),
Is the snow on the Mountaineer's Route consolidated or a people using snowshoes?

Thanks!

Kurt -
Just went through the pictures from your post on Mar 24 and understand the MR conditions.
Thanks!

You're welcome. Would love to see pix and hear an update on conditions when you return. Thanks!


Snowshoes are not needed. It's icy on the slabs in between LBSL and UBSL. Crampons are advised. The snow is consolidated but has some facets deep down. I'm still breaking a trail in the Chute but not sinking in too far. Here are pix from Mt. Whitney March 26-29, 2015.