Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Winter Access Forum February summit attempt via MR

Greetings fellow climbers,

2 of us are planning a winter whitney attemp via MR during Feb this year. We are both pretty seasoned climbers, in excellent condition. I have summitted whitney twice via MR, as a day climb, under 11 hrs RT.
We prepared for this trip last year, gear-wise and physical conditioning, but for logistical reasons and timing issues we passed up the winter climb and rescheduled it for this season.

What we are looking for is either another group already planning a trip so we can join efforts. Or 1 or 2 experienced individuals wanting to join us, as a guarantee that at least we have 2-3 people to attempt it. Because i am not willing to solo it, and missing the trip this year after all my planning is no an option.

The timing in Feb is not a major issue. I am very flexible and possibly looking at the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th weekend in Feb.

We are planning a 3-4 day climb...so fr/sat/sun and maybe Monday.

Pressure to summit is not there....just out there to test myself and have a good time.

Anyone out there?

Nobody interested ??

I spend a lot of time up there, so if you announce what weekend you'll be up, I may drop by. With as much snow as I hope has dumped with this series of storms, I'm sure I'll be up there skinning and snowshoeing. I don't have a whole lot of desire to sleep up there, though, so it'll be one-days for me. (Unless CLMRG happens to build an igloo.)

There may be a number of people who bypass this winter forum, and therefore didn't see your post. You may want to post it on the main section of the forum.

You might also try posting on Climber.org, or
Outdoorsclub.org

I'm thinking of heading up in Feb as well, also on MR, probably with a couple of friends. My biggest question right now is how far access is available via car? Does anyone have any idea what the typical levels are?

J

You can usually get to the 6K' level via car. It's the spot where there's a big parking area/turnaround on the right (north) side of the road.

Great, Thanks for the info. I assume the best route up the portal is just following the road...

Yes, and keep an eye out for rockfall in some zones - they're obvious.

For anyone interested. So far the set date is Friday Feb 15th, weather permitting. If there is a need to and the forecast on monday-tuesday shows bad weather we will put it off until the next weekend.

Itinrary:

- Friday Feb 15th: Start day : early morning start (wherever on the road we will be)
- Saturday Feb 16th: We need to be camped as early as we can mid-day to early afternoon at iceberg. Recovery time.
- Sunday Feb 17th: Early Summit push & Celebrate my B-day on the summit.....descent back to camp at iceberg, pack and head all the way down.

Delayed one week with the same itinerary. Apparently since i am single now, i forgot that Feb 15 is the Valentines weekend....and that may cause some "domestic" problems to "some" of our team members ...;)

So now we are looking at Feb 22,23,24.

I would be interested in going up with you. I have summitted 5 times, one via the MR on a solo day climb. I have not done it in the winter but have the gear and the ambition. Let me know if your interested.

Thanks,
Russ

Hey Guys-

Looks like we'll be behind you by a few days. Any chance you could post a trip report? Thanks, and good luck.

J

i'm going to be going up that weekend as well, i'll be behind you 8 hours or so. probably try to make the lower boyscout lake friday night, then catch up with y'all on saturday afternoon.

i made it to iceberg lake this weekend and frustrated that i didn't make it all the way. timing was an issue. i found i couldn't go from lower boyscout to the summit, and back before it got dark in the areas i didn't want to do in the dark.

We actually plan to be camped at LBSL by friday afternoon. So i don't think you are going to be that far behind, or at least we will be all camped at LBSL. See you there

Since you were up there this past weekend, can you please provide us with a description of the situation up there. Road, Snow, trail, weather, temps...etc

George

the trail was made all the way to right below the plateau at iceberg lake, we lost the trail there,(also where we ran out of time) during the day it was pretty warm in the sun. not sure what was normal, what was abnormal. was self belaying every step on the steep area before iceberg lake.

i'll be getting off work and heading up there on friday, should be camping out at the trailhead friday night waking up early saturday and heading up the MR. if this changes i'll post here the changes. but i gotta get out of civilization this weekend.

What is the take of those weather and whitney experts out there about this weekend's weather situation?

NWS has a 60 percent chance of snow, this weekend, unless something changes there i'm gonna have to find some other wilderness to lose myself in this weeeknd.

Summited via MR on 2-18-08. If anyone is interested in what conditions were the link below is to my photos of the trip. Of course condtions will now be different with the storms this week.

http://picasaweb.google.com/rmgray/MtWhitneyMountaineersRouteFeb2008