Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Going Back Down the MR? Why more people don't ?

Is the reason that most people that go up the MR and go down the main trail..to make it a loop hike & just to add to the over all beauty of the hike? Or because they do not want to go down the MR?

Also those of you that have come back down the MR if you found it any worse than going up it?
The last time I was on Whitney was in 1993... I have been mulling the idea of getting up there once again..but would like to maybe try the MR....camping at Iceberg Lake so I have more time to enjoy being up there.
Hope this does not sound like a silly question!
Thanks Everyone

Matter of preference I suppose. Sometimes I've gone up and back via the MR, other times the loop is nice to get Muir on the way out (and depending on what time of year/conditions etc catch the glissade). Some may prefer to idea of following a trail back down instead of using the MR. Either route is ok by me.

Hi Made in Tahoe....... We usually come back down the MR for one reason.... It is faster getting back down to the car.

A few years ago one of the young men in our group was emotionally troubled by the final 400 feet up the staircase to the summit. Consequently we took the oportunity to walk down the main trail. In a way, I figured it would be a chance for my son Matthew and nephew Brent to experience the 97 switchbacks and the trail.

Looking back, the trail seemed like just an incredibly long walk.....it seemed to go on and on and on. I doubt I will ever come down the trail again (unless I want to climb Mt. Muir or some of the needles.) It is just to far and too crowded for my taste.

If you have the ability to climb up the MR to the summit, you certainly have the ability to return the same way.

Made in Tahoe, You mentioned camping, that is an important point in your question. Most folks going up the MR have day packs or less. The campers at Iceberg usually return via the MR. Dayhikers choose either way. I don't think you’ll get very many recommendations to hike the MR either way with full packs.

Up at Iceberg last August I talked to a couple of guys who had just returned from their hotel in Lone Pine. The night before they had camped at Iceberg, ascended the MR to the summit. They were not comfortable descending the MR and hiked down the MT, spent the night at Lone Pine and then returned that day for their gear. To them, going up looking up was far easier than going/looking down.

I thought I'd mention that camping and full packs creates different choices.

I'd say if your going to camp at Iceberg leave your stuff at Iceberg and do a nice and light summit Up and down the Chute and Notch and return to Iceberg. Taking a full pack up the Notch so you can decsend the main trail is going to be a very tough task.

Going down the Notch is a bit more intimidating than going up. However it is a much better option than trying to get up the Notch with an overnight pack. The notch is a region where you really need solid balance.

So what I am hearing are two main ideas.

If you are camping at Iceberg Lake, it makes sense to daypack to the summit of Mt. Whitney and return to Iceberg Lake. Carrying a full backpack to the summit of Mt. Whitney up the MR is not very easy.

If you are dayhiking, you can choose either the main trail or the MR to return to the car. We usually return via the MR since going down the trail is considerably further. However, that being said, it is emotional and physically rigorous to return down the MR. Sometimes I wonder if walking down the trail, although longer, would be a nice change.

After coming up the MR a couple months ago (in snow) I was glad that we came back down the Main Trail. I was pretty wiped out and to tell you the truth, the thought of a long but mindless walk out down the Main Trail sure was appealing. Of course..I didn't realize that the backside of Whitney to Trail Crest would still have some pretty interesting spots with snow fields to cross..so it wasn't that relaxing. Add in stepping out onto the slope below TC to glissade and my heart rate might have been peaking..

I had never seen the Main Trail until late last year when Richard P and I day-hiked it to the summit and back. I sure am glad I've seen it..despite it being a "slog"..there are some tremendous views that you obviously don't get on the MR side. It's the greatest loop hike I've ever done (though the Grand Canyon down the Bright Angel and up the Kaibab Trail is a contender..).

Chris

Thanks everyone for your comments I sure appreciate it! So sorry.. I guess I should have explained my plan better. If I do this trip..I would backpack up to Iceberg Lake on day one...day two.. day hike up the MR & back down the MR to Iceberg Lake & camp again.. day three hike back out.
I would only be hauling my day pack from iceberg to the summit and not my backpack
Thanks again all!