Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney Trail pictures, Memorial weekend

I hiked to Trail Camp on May 31, summited the next day. Pictures are <a href=http://members12.clubphoto.com/robert634908/2353168>here</a>.

Some impressions:

Most will want to ascend the 97 switchbacks now. The snow is good, and there is not much of it left on the trail. A few patches will get your attention with, of course, the cables area presenting the biggest visual challenge.

Descent can be via the switchbacks or the chute from Trail Crest. I highly recommend against glissading the chute unless you are extremely skilled in ice ax self-arrest. I did, and had to arrest three times when my speed got too high. Walking down the chute, with ice ax, should be OK, although I saw several doing it with only hiking poles. Walking down the snow patches on the switchbacks will take some care, and crampons will likely make you feel better about it.

I took ice ax, crampons, and hiking poles. I did not use my crampons, and the only time I took out my ice ax was in crossing the cables (and for the glissade).

If you are skilled in this type of terrain, you can do the climb with hiking poles only. Less skilled, and an ice ax should be considered mandatory. But you need to know how to use it, and this is not the place to learn.

Many will want to take crampons. But if you are reasonably experienced, and limit your exposure on snow to between about 7 AM and 4 PM, you can get along without them. Worth repeating: (1) be reasonably experienced, and (2) go when the snow is soft.

The mountain is still a little dangerous in places, and will be for perhaps another week; the pictures will show where.

I saw several people who were having problems, mostly because they didn't have enough equipment (ice ax, crampons), or had it but had never used it before. Shortly after I left the summit, I encountered such a couple still going up. I encouraged them to turn back and said I would accompany them through the delicate spots, but they had summit fever and wanted to press on. I hope they made it back OK.

As always, I left my ax and crampons at Trail Crest while I went for the summit.

I took one liter of water up from Trail Camp. I stopped every half hour and drank about 2 inches. Then topped off with snow, shook it, and had a liter again. I was back in striking distance of Trail Camp eight hours later, still with a full canteen.

The mosquitos are out.

Hey Bob,

If you were doing Mt. Whitney in a day hike where would you part with your backpack if time is of importance?

Thanks a lot.

~Adam

Great photos, Bob! I may be conservative, but I'd want crampons as well as my ice axe crossing both the cables area and the second area you captioned as "you have to be careful in some spots"...

A mountaineer's walkup but not yet ready for the summer hordes of ill-prepared hikers!!

> The mosquitos are out.

They must be still working their way North. I was in Carson-Iceberg Wilderness and didn't see a one all weekend (thank goodness; I do not like mosquitos).

Adam: One obvious place is Trail Crest. Yesterday, at the top of my mind was leaving ice ax and crampons there because I knew they wouldn't be needed above. This fixation caused me to forget to leave my pack also, taking only my parka, which has pockets for a canteen, a couple of candy bars, and camera to the summit. Which is what I usually do.

Another possible place is in the Keeler Needle area. Sometimes, especially if it's cold or late, you want to have 'most everything with you closer to the summit. But leaving the bulk of it 500' below the summit, when you will be back in about an hour, seems to make sense to me.

Of course, anywhere in between can also make sense depending on conditions, time of day, etc. Thank you for the question: Carrying unneeded things higher than necessary, when you are likely tired and daylight is waning, is to be avoided.

Alan: You touch upon a thought I had, that this weekend seemed to be between phases. Earlier, it was more like winter when mostly only the relatively experienced would venture up. But in a week or so, it will be summer-like and anyone can climb it safely. I was a more than a little concerned by what I observed this weekend, and delayed my descent from Trail Camp, watching to see that most of the others had gotten safely past the delicate areas.

Powergui: I was in the area five days earlier, no mosquitos. On Monday, two bugged me (pun, there). On Sunday, hordes seemed to be out. So have patience; they'll get up there.

Hi Bob R,

There is a picture of you on the summit on my website http://homepage.mac.com/tobiasdansen
that was a great trip!

Tobias

Tobias, excellent pictures! The color really pops--as in eye-popping--in many of your photos. Thanks for sharing. I camped for years below your "Hawk Hill" photo of the Golden Gate Bridge and got to enjoy viewing the bridge in all seasons and weather conditions. You also have superb pictures of Whitney, including that one with Bob R.!