Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Traverse to McAdie in April

Anyone have any thoughts on what the traverse from Irvine to McAdie might be like in April? Not being familiar with the route in general just wondering what effect snow might have on it.
Thanks!

Going in April would suggest you are skilled in Winter Mountaineering.....

The Approach to Mt Irvine is fairly straight forward. Hike into the Meysan Lake Canyon.

You would then take the chute going up to Mt Irvine and then south to the Irvine Mallory saddle along the ridge

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1223420126061435028wAtjQn

Here are some pictures taken in late spring on the approach to Mt Irvine from Arc's pass

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1223418121061435028oKNfpH

Coming down the other side would not be difficult, as would the approach to Mt. McAdie.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2112464250061435028CjikMW

This is coming up from Arc's pass to Mt McAdie

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2410451120061435028xZsRmc

The difficulty might be the downclimb to the McAdie Notch.

pick up the pictures here

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2484192920061435028TVOISD

Here are some Rick Kent pictures showing the area between Mt Irvine and Mt McAdie.

http://www.rickkent.net/ViewerPlus/viewer.aspx?FolderID=276&Page=3

Thanks Kashcraft, some good info!

I'm ok with the winter element however as I think you mentioned I was a little concerned about the actual climb to McAdie. Exposed class 3 could be interesting with a little snow and ice!

You mentioned your trip was in the late spring however I don't see much snow above the Meysan Lake drainage. Was it pretty clear on the ridges? I haven't looked at all the pics yet but didn't see any snow up high.

Is your marked up topo pretty accurate? Looking through Secors book, I didn't see a reference to the NE ridge however it did look very do-able and I wondered about it. The East Couloir looked interesting but could also be icy in April or spewing rock! Neither of which would be attractive.

Thanks again!
Paul

The pictures are not from the same trip, but a combination of trips over the years...mostly May and June with more or less snow.

As you would expect there are multiple routes, some covered in Secors book and some not