Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board June 20th Permits 2019

I do need some guidance from Master Doug or anyone with current conditions for the Whitney/Bishop area.

We have 2 different permits for June 20th 2019. Kearsarge, visiting Whitney Peak to Horseshoe Meadow and Piute Pass to Mammoth. My concern is the amount of snow but more so the sloppy conditions come late June. We want to avoid the 3am start times to avoid post holing, not sure is this will happen. Crabtree Meadow is reporting 30" of approx. snow accumulation as of now... Any advice on other 10 days excursions or do you believe we will have success with the permits we have. Last year Bishop Ranger Station advised us not to proceed with the permits we had last June 5th so we changed up to climb the Minarets for a week.

Any advice and wisdom anyone would like to share is greatly welcomed. I will check back from time to time before we make our final decision as what direction or adventure we take in a few weeks. I have hiked/climbed Whitney in many conditions including Mountaineers route 3 times blanketed in snow twice and 3 times with light snow. I am an avid climber with alot of winter climbing/mountaineering skills. My fiance is novice at best. Any help is awesome.

I think you've already answered your question. Whichever you choose, this will be a trip for your fiancé (since they're lacking the skills and you'll be in guide/support mode). Let them decide what they prefer to do, i.e. which location will be preferable for their discomfort. 10 days sounds ambitious to me for a novice, so I would opt for the Kearsarge to Whitney. Less snow, obviously, but mainly because you have more bail points in case one, or both, of you "aren't feeling it" a couple days into the trip.

Thank you sir for the input. She is eager as a beaver and in incredible climbing shape. She loved the climbing in the Minarets and the year before we did two big climbs in the San Juans in CO. She eats it up! I told her today we may need a back up plan and a beach vacation but she was so bummed. My concern is for her safety and the post holing...

As it gets closer to June 10th any back country info is awesome and your time to responding to these post is very much appreciated Jeff.
I have a deep love for the Eastern Sierra Nevadas and she is aquiring the same love. With us living in Vegas it makes it close and feesable.

I have never done Whitney to Horshoe Meadow or Piute Pass to Mammoth. So if you or others has some good knowledge of those areas and would like to share I would appreciate that. In 2016 a buddy and I did Kearsarge to Sabrina Lake and it was perfect. Snow up high and dry down low. I have also down Whitney to Kearsarge twice.

Thanks again Jeff!

Mountain Yoda,

This time of year it can be useful to see what PCT hikers are reporting. For example, there is a hiker from New Zealand who has passed Kennedy Meadows and writes detailed reports, including videos. See the PCT link on her website restlesskiwiadventures.com.

She should soon be in areas where you are considering hiking.

If you hike starting June 20, please give us an update at the conclusion. Backcountry conditions are on the minds of many of us.

Thanks.

Jim

Jim's correct the PCT hikers are doing your trip now on the South trip plan, so by 20 June track not saying it will be dirt over the passes,and New Army can hold a cornice so going out Trail Pass or a little more south if you get word on the trail about New Army , now the back side of Whitney always holds snow at the base but again the PCT crowd will have a track up. Stream crossing may be more of a problem that snow. again the North Bound PCT hikers can update you after you join the trail after Kearsarge.

We were considering that some PCTers would blaze thru but stream/river crossings and washed out trails would slow them down to a crawl possibly.

I like the info and will look into to her updates. We will let anyone who is interested know what conditions are like when we go. I can even send pics and some shorts videos.

Thanks again gentlemen.

Doug looks like you finished the hostel and things are going very well. Very stoked to see this come to fruition. Take care guys. I will check back....