Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Next Chute Over

Anyone out there ever climbed the next chute over (west) from the MR? If so, how does it compare with the MR? I'm talking like above the notch. Just looking for something different I guess.

Thanks,

Phil

Only one I know of is Bob Rockwell. He would be the person to ask.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockwellb/486663377/in/set-72157600183422651/

That is such a fantastic picture. Thank you Bob R!

Last time I was up there, we went part way up the first, then climbed to the right over the rib, and finished the top half in the second. We descended the same way.

I didn't seem any easier or more difficult to me. It was just as intimidating.

In that link, to the right of the main picture, there are two thumbnails. Click on the left one to see the prior picture. Click twice to see a picture in the chute you are inquiring about.



There were five of us that day, including two rank novices who had never been close to a mountain before. The blonde just to the right of center is my sister-in-law, wearing leather gloves so the rock wouldn't scratch her fingernails. I had a short rope along, just in case it was needed, but never got it out.

By the way, we had spent the night at East Face Lake and were climbing with our full packs, in the range of 15 to 20 lb. We descended the main trail. That was 31 years ago, and my SIL still describes the climb as the most memorable experience of her life, and tells about it to anyone who will listen.

I claim that the second chute over is easier than the first, the third easier than the second, etc.

I concur with Bob. I went up the 2nd chute last year and at the time thought it ought to be the preferred route. It seemed more straight-forward and safer than the 1st chute that everyone uses. There was no tricky start at the bottom and no significantly exposed moves that I can recall -- just relatively easy class 3. Plus I think rockfall is less of a problem here compared with the bowling alley that we find in the first chute. This was in summer however with no snow or ice problems. I'm definitely going to be using this chute again.

http://www.rickkent.net/ViewerPlus/viewphoto.aspx?ID=100424

-Rick

You mean except that time in July, 2007, when Bob witnessed a large rockfall in that chute while standing at the notch. Rockfall would, of course, be likely in any of these chutes, especially the First one, since it is the most widely utilized.



I love Bob's caption of "The rockfall must have obliterated the use trail called 'The Easy Walk-off'."