Dito Sierra Snails Comments.
In addition, with packs, the hike up the Whitney-Russel Col from Iceberg is pretty tough. With loose rock and sand mix, the Col is physically challenging Great view of Iceberg from the top. Two steps up, one slide back down.
Don't know what the conditions are for Iceberg now, but the snow can be a hazard if one isn't prepared. Did this loop last year at the end of August and the snow/ice fields from the lake extended all the way up the side of the mountain. Having to cross the field without crampons in august, it made for an interesting traverse from one side to the other imagining sliding all the way back down into the lake.
Once over the other side one finds the only "trail" winds down and next to the several lakes that eventually leads to Artic Lake and then down to Guitar. Talked to Doug Sr. after the trip and mentioned to him that there was no real trail. Just snow/ice fields again, and boulder hopping, lots and lots of loose rocks. He mentioned that though this was on the map as a trail it was originally a ski trail. Thus the lack of a maintained trail.
My feet hurt at the end of the day.
We hiked from UBSL to Iceberg to Artic to Guitar in one day. We stopped and watched hikers go up the MR gully from Iceberg conteplating a run up that and back down but decided there wasn't enough time.
We camped not at Guitar lake but a couple of tarns above. That gave us a head start the next morning. Was on the trail by 1:30am and made a sunrise at the summit. Down to the portal by lunch.
hope this helps
joe
