Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Question about current conditions.....

I haven't seen any recent post about the conditions. Has anyone gone up this weekend or the last part of the week?? I am heading up on tuesday and am wondering how the switchbacks are looking. Last i read that was the only tricky part. Are crampons and an Axe suggested or is it easliy negotiable?? Thank you....

Thanks for the post. My boyfriend and I are doing a 2-day hike beginning Wednesday. We, too are curious about hikers that are completing their hike today or tomorrow.

We have resisted buying crampons but if someone says they are totally necessary, please let us know. We would like to summit safely and not slip and die.

Thanks to everyone who posts their experiences. It helps everyone!

You do not mention the route you are taking so I am assuming you are asking about the main Mt Whitney trail conditions. I was up there on Saturday June 2 for a day hike and the conditions were excellent. It is hard to believe the difference a year makes in the snow pack. There is very little snow on the trail and that is only on the switchbacks and a few spots above trail crest. The only area of concern to proceed with caution is at the cables. There is still snow and just a small area of rock onlong the cables and early in the morning it is covered with ice. It was passable but required careful steps and holds. I would not consider taking an ice axe and crampon unless you are going to go up or down the chute. There is still snow there but it is melting fast. A good report to look at is Bob R's "Mt Whitney Trail 23-24 May" post. Click on the pictures link and find the photo on the first page of the cables, although more snow has melted it is still pretty representative of the cable section. Good luck and have fun, it was a beautiful Saturday on top and very few people on the trail.