Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board expected trail conditions in May?

I am doing Whitney in May from Kearsarge Pass. Should I anticipate snow at Forester Pass as it is north facing?

If you go in May, you will find snow on ALL the passes. The north side of Forester should be ok as it is not too steep. But the south side trail is blasted out of a cliff in one place, so I hope the snow is cleared enough from there so you can pass.

Consider an ice axe and crampons.

You will find snow on all the passes like the previous person indicated. I went on Kearsarge Pass on a day hike in the middle of June four years ago and encountered snow about a 1,000 feet before the pass. I had to use crampons, and an ice axe from there until the top of the pass. This was a below average snow year, unlike this year. Look for above average temperature changes/snowmelt before you go.
Also, two years ago I did Kearsarge to Whitney Portal the third week of August and there was a section of snow (approximately 400 feet) that we had to go through, then trail, to the top of Forrester Pass. Take ice axe, crampons, and appropriate clothing/stuff. Prepare for the worst, expect the unexpected.
Good luck,
Greg Lukenbill

i already got some input on this from another post...but since we're chattin snow on passes...

early july...some snow on the passes. crampon i get. ice axe? when one starts talking axes, i assume ropes would also be needed...is this just ignorance?

Not really. See the British Mountaineering Council link in Bob R's post here: Glissading from Trail Crest

I am familiar with the route - did a JMT thru hike in 2003 in the end of August. Will we need full-on crampons or will a 'Katoola' type device work?

I wouldn't skimp. Yes, extra weight and all. But, better to be safe. Good luck with your hike.

Actually, I'd carry an ice axe long before I'd want crampons. The axe is a safety tool for self-arrest. Crampons are necessary when you won't get adequate traction with your boots.

Basically, if it's steep enough and/or hard/slick enough that I want crampons, I definitely need my axe for safety.

what type of crampon would you sugest that is compatable with trail-runners?

As Steve said, the south side of Forrester pass is blasted out of a cliff in places. For much of that descent, I think that the concept of using an ice axe for self-arrest is pretty academic. If it is icy and you slip, you are pretty likely to go over an edge and that's all she wrote.

Let's see if I got this right...

You want to go over the highest pass in the PCT/JMT in May, during a year with above normal snow, wearing trailrunners and Kathtoola-type traction devices. So far, you have not even mentioned the most important tool...an ice axe.

Even, Cottonwood Pass has snow on it May which would require some to gear up.

as far as i can tell there are two types of ice axes. technical, for ice climbing aka an ice tool. the other is used primarily for glacier travel, self arrest, belay anchor, any thing non-technical. the length of said ice axe should be the distance from my fingertips to the ground in CM.

so, ice axe selection is prety simple.

by Kathoola type i don't mean the 'micro-spikes', rather their light weight strap-on version. or would somthing like a Grivel Rambo be overkill?

Uhhhh, over Forrester, in the snow. Hello. Many times I have come over Forrester from the North (you can argue east or whatever, but I'm on the JMT doing north to south, so . . . ) Side. I always get the spooks going down the south––that sort of narrow trail, the sheer drops off the right side, always puts a tingle in the private places and I get down into the valley there, touch "level" ground and look back up at that vanishing notch and I wonder at the marvel of it all––they built a frickin' trail into the mountain. Amazing.

and then I think, how the hell do you carve up this thing in the winter, or a heavy snow year??? How do you go down???

But I guess people do it.

I can see kick-steeping up the north side––sure you could even do it in trail runners, but you'd be sorry––but then down the "south-west" side. You'd be gargling on 'em . . . Yes, take crampons, take an AXE and I'd say for the hell of it, take a rope and another person. I'd think that one mistake within the first fifty yards of trail and you'd be looking at the inside of a body bag and chopper out.

But maybe I am just being overly dramatic and timid. I get on that thing and I'm hugging the wall for a while, daring myself to look over the edge . . . anyway, good luck.

Before we get overly cautious, the south facing trail of Forrester pass in May may not be that bad. If you cross on a sunny afternoon, the snow will be spring conditions: mushy. And if it is late May, most of the snow will be melted away.

So with whatever snow is there, it should be passable. It shouldn't be a steep slope inviting a fatal slip.

I am willing to guess that it would probably be possible to get down without any special equipment. But since it is so remote, it would be a lousy place to have to turn around if you did not have the equipment.

And last time I crossed the pass, there were four of us -- one a woman particularly afraid of heights. But I do not recall her expressing any fear in this location. It certainly did not affect me, but heights really don't bother me.

The best information for dusk would be to hear from anyone else who might have already passed there this spring. But dusk may be the first.

Like most members on this board, I have traveled over Forrester many times; however, never as early as May since I am not skilled in what would be required. Having said that, a picture is worth a thousand words...... I decided to google Forrester Pass on the web and came across a couple pictures that might be useful. Click on the link below; begin looking at picture 6.... when you click on the picture, the resolution decreases, but clicking again and a high resolution appears where you can zoom in. Additionally, look at the next several pictures since they show the north side. It looks like the pictures were taken July 0f 2006. Thanks to that individual...... I hope other members post pictures of Forrester Pass to get other perspectives.

Paul

[url=[url=http://pics.livejournal.com/baxil/gallery/0000p9pp]Forrester Pass[/url]

Nope! I /we won’t be the first. I just spoke with the rest of my group (four of us) and they are expressing a little concern regarding the trail conditions as well. None of us have any real winter and or snow trekking experience so we are going to play it safe and re-schedule for Labor Day. (I don't want to be a topic of discussion on the SAR board!)

However, I would like to thanks everyone for their input and in sharing their experiences. You guys were definitely a deciding factor in our itinerary change. Perhaps next year, as I am eager to hone my winter skills next season, locally. Besides, the Sierras will always be there.

Steve is right. There is no sense exaggerating the danger. To me, the main point is that May is an unpredictable time for someone wanting to get in a quick hike in trail runners. Around Labor Day sounds like a better bet for that.

This was a wise decision. The are too many where do I buy this or rent piece of winter gear questions and not of enough what skills are required and where do I get'em.

Try mid-September. A lot to the crowds are gone...until you reach Lower Trail Crest. At this point, it becomes the middle of August for the last 13 miles of your trip.

The original question has been OBE, but I am surprised nobody suggested to dusk what I consider the obvious. That is, go the way of the JMT before Forester Pass was put in. Parts of the trail are a little damaged, but still there.

From Vidette Meadow, head up Center Basin and go over Junction Pass. Drop to The Pothole, and then turn right on the Shepherd Pass trail. Rejoin the current JMT where it hits Tyndall Creek. Shepherd Pass with a lot of snow is not a piece of cake, but it should be easier than Forester under the same conditions.

Sure, this way is longer and involves more elevation gain and loss. Might even add a day to the trip. But is that a bad thing?

By the way, saying "May" is not really sufficient. There is a big difference between early in the month and late.

Does any one have any experience or knowledge with the Sierra Mountain Center? They have a 1 day snow travel class in June.