Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Snow shovel for Whitney zone?

Hello everyone,

My friend is going to the Whitney zone this weekend (5-15 to 17) and wants to know if he should take my snow shovel (to prep site at Trail Camp). I told him he is welcome to borrow, but he doesn't want to take the extra weight if not necessary. Does anyone have any input? Would it just be a waste of room and weight, or is there a benefit to having it this late in the season? I think he is leaving Thursday for the portal (I suppose he could take it and just leave in car if those coming off the hill say it's not needed). For that matter, what about snowshoes?

Thank you.
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Does your friend have no fingers of his own?

as of a couple weeks ago, it was all snow from outpost camp to trail crest and on/off to the summit(very exposed and narrow footing on ice for the first .75mi from trail crest) I wished i had snow shoes when the snow got soft. If your friend is worried about the weight of a snow shovel carrying now shoes for half the trip might be too much. I took a shovel as it is still winter mountaineering, I also take min 100' rope, webbing, snow pickts, rescue pullys, ect with more concern for mountain safety than how muh stuff weighs. I figure the ol By Scout motto of Be Prepared has stuck with me for 20+ yrs. I train hard off season to make mounaineering more enjoyable and safe. If I was going again soon I would take both, however if weight is a factor a very early start will help, like 3am from trail camp to summit.

I went there last weekend. 5-9-09
I think you don't need snow shovel absolutely.
Ample camp site are there dried space trailcamp area.
Have fun.

Thank you for the responses. As for the question posed by Southswell: Yes, my friend does have fingers--eleven of them! The problem, however, is he is illiterate...
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