Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney main trail pictures, Friday June 6.

See them at

http://members12.clubphoto.com/robert634908/1370939

I didn’t take crampons or snowshoes, didn’t even come close to needing them. Took an ice ax for glissading down from Trail Crest, used it only for that. Hiking poles were nice, as always.

The snow is melting fast. Except for some small patches, the trail is clear to Trail Camp. Above there, it is consolidating – not quite “good” everywhere yet, but getting there.

I took the switchbacks to Trail Crest, and they are in good condition now. Almost 100% clear of snow, except for the cables (the cables are not up yet), a few corners, and the last 200’ before Trail Crest. Most people getting to that last 200’ decided to go up the loose rocks/dirt toward Discovery Pinnacle, then descend on rocky terrain to Trail Crest proper after passing above the snow. A few have gone partway across and then, finding too much postholing, have ascended to get off the snow. I pushed the route the rest of the way and once a few more people follow, it should be good. (There are tricks to avoid sinking in this kind of snow, but they are more easily demonstrated than explained.)

Snow is not an issue on the back side.

I glissaded down from Trail Crest, but regretted it. The mashed-potato snow made the going tough, it would have been difficult to arrest, and, at the bottom, the half-mile of snow to negotiate getting back to the trail was hard work. Glissading saved some time, but not as much as usual. I didn’t think it was worth it, but others may disagree.

I noticed that some who had glissaded the chute before me had kept their crampons on. Don't do that! I still have the x-rays showing what can happen. And the report in the AAC's Accidents in North American Mountaineering for that year.

There is plenty of water everywhere. The spring that flows over the switchbacks in the vicinity of #17 – 23 is in fine style (see Wayne Pyle for numbering of the switchbacks), and there are trickles above the cables. Higher, there are plenty of snow banks to add to your canteen as you drink.

Bob, another fine job at reporting conditions! You really are to be commended!

My offer to take 3 or 4 people, up to the challenge, from Northern CA still stands. Anyone wish to ride for some 350 miles, each way, in a late model passenger vehicle, getting 40 miles a gallon? A/C, FM radio, with peaks enroute identified, and the best stops for food or info well determined. All requests for rest breaks gladly and promptly accomodated. Willing to split lodging costs, or camping fees. Leave at 8-9 a.m. to arrive to Lone Pine by dusk. One day summit the next day. Free buffet when back through Reno, if all goes well.

And please, no local Sierra Club. We are out to really explore, enjoy, and protect!

I find the idea of glissading really scary. I am not a snow person. Do you have tips and tricks on this or would you recommend what they do in snow boarding and skiing, i.e. bunny slope at first and all that?

Great photos Bob. I can't wait for my Minarets visit in one week, I plan visits to Minaret Lake, Lake Ediza and Duck Lake.

I will attempt Meysan Lake on the way back, should be, well, unknown territory for me.

Look for my reports next week

thanks for the update. great photos. sounds like it's getting a little late for glissade there.

Bob, your pictures a breath-taking!! you've got a good eye. How many times have you been up Whitney?

Quick question, what is glissading? Is that just a fancy term for slidin down the chute on your ass and using your ice axe to slow down? Thats fun!

Bob,

I did the glissade thing with crampons on this past winter my ankle isn't right and it has been almost 7 months.

Stupid ro**** with crampons mistake. That lesson cost a lot.

Bill

Great Picture Bob.

"Mountaineering - The Freedom of the Hills", by the Mountaineers of Seattle, is the bible of mountaineering instruction. It's now in its 6th edition. Besides having a good section on glissading, it also talks about self-arrests - something any glissader who has a wife and kids needs to be able to do.

A few years back I was on two SAR operations a week apart, in the chute below Trail Crest. Both victims had gotten out of control and hit the rocks at the bottom. The woman had multiple injuries and ended up sans spleen, but survived. The guy hit the rocks headfirst, and you can guess the rest.

If you don't want to own a copy, I'm sure you can get an interlibrary loan of one.

How many times up Whitney? Like anything else, if you do something a few times a year, for a lot of years, the numbers just add up.

Good post Bob, one should practice on a slope with a good runout first. Being proficient at self arrest is not a first time thing. But I do realize that the slopes down from Whitney aren't that hard. Also, don't do like the guy a year or two ago, that tried to arrest with a pole between his legs. And yes, sliding down with crampons is a good way to break an ankle.

My definitions:
Glissade= Skiing down on your boots.
Bum Slide= Sliding down on your butt.

I usually do the second, as I don't ski so well, but in the right conditions I can do a mean crouch, just keeping my butt off the snow. There are advantages to that.

Great report and great pictures - thanks! Makes me feel better about my July 3 overnight trip!

Thanks very much for the post and pictures. I'll be up there from June 11-13th, and it really helps to have firsthand info about trail conditions. Thanks again for taking the time to post!

thanks for the info bob. so the ranger station is saying crampons are a must. you didn't take them and didn't need them. what's up with the ranger station?