Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Any snow in the chute below Mt. LeConte ?

Hi All,
Has anyone been up to Meysan Lake that could advise on the amount
of snow in the chute above the lake? Have a permit for 8/19. Any recent trip reports to the lake and/or the summit would be appreciated.
Happy and Safe Hiking to all.
Rick

Went up that chute on July 10th. There was snow up to the rock bands but most of it was soft except a few icy patches just before the rock bands. We didn't bring crampons/axe so we decided against the areas in the center and just left of center due to the morning ice. Instead we traversed right to a spot where we crossed a snow field at a low angle then got onto the rocks without any trouble. Our route was right of center but not the furthest right chute that ascends to Mallory/Irvine.

Water was flowing in several places due to the melt off. By now I would guess you can avoid snow completely up to the plateau.

Notes:

The chute talus/scree was really bad. One step up two slides down. Going down was an epic slip and slide fest.

Once above the snow it was all dry both to the plateau and in the Waterfall Pitch chute.

We had a close call with an afternoon thunderstorm but it never crossed over from the north and west into Meysan canyon.

Photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/100492563@N07/albums/72157715175579696

Hi James,
Thanks for the great trip report and pictures.
My son and I will give it a shot on the 20th.
Happy Hiking.
Rick

Those are the best LeConte/Corcoran pictures I've ever seen. Thanks!

They're really good, but for my money, these are the best...

Wow ! they had the virus season too ! all the barbers were shut down.

I was going to joke that you could get a black market haircut in a back room at the Double L, but then I found out that the Double L is "permanently closed." Sad.