Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board What skills for MR? Who can do it?

I've been to the summit 4 times through the main trail. I would like to try the MR. What skills/training/lesson/gears do i need? Do i need a permit? Is it a day climb/hike or do i need to stay overnight? What's the best time of the year to go up? Can i tag along w/ someone?

Thanks
Edu

Probably the most important skill for someone who has never been up the MR is route-finding. There is no trail per se. There are sections where it is pretty obvious and others where it is harder to find. It is easiest to climb in the summer or early fall because the weather is (usually) mellow and there are cairns (and people) to help find the way.

The MR can be done as a day hike (which I don't think requires a permit) or by camping at one or even two of the lakes along the way. If you take the correct route, it does not require any real technical climbing skills, but if you get off route it helps to know some basic rock-climbing. The only additional piece of gear that is highly recommended beyond what you normally would take up the main route is a climbing helmet for the rockfall in the chute above Iceberg lake. You may also want to bring a short (~30 foot) section of rope to lower gear on the way down the E ledges.

You’ll need:

 Basic Route Finding – 8 tenths of the route is just following the north fork of lone pine creek. I think it would be hard to actually get lost, however good route finding skills (and doing your homework) will save you a lot of time and frustration.
 Snow Travel Skills – This becomes less important as we head toward summer but basic ice ax (self arrest), crampon, and glissading skills are required for snow travel.
 Rock Climbing – It’s easy to get off-route and find yourself needing some decent rock climbing skills. If you have a good guide to show you the route technical climbing skills shouldn't be required, but you’ll be much more comfortable in some of the third class scrambles if you have them.
 Fitness – this route is much more physically and mentally demanding then the mail trail.
 Permit – For an overnighter permits (on the quota system) are required - for day trips you still need a permit to travel in the John Muir Wilderness but there is no quota. And you may return via the main trail. Or at least that’s what I was told two weeks ago in the Lone Pine ranger station.

If you don’t have good basic mountaineering skills don’t try it on your own.

I prefer snow travel to rock and scree, which makes spring the best season for me. Winter travel would require avalanche awareness skills and summer travel in scree and rock would make the MR more physically demanding.

BJ