Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Looking for input/advice

Hello everyone, thanks for taking the time to help me out. Last year on June 30-July 4, I was in a group that went from Cottonwood over New Army Pass to Sky Blue Lake to Upper Crabtree Lake over Discovery Pinnacle to the summit to Trail Camp and then out to the Portal. It was a FANTASTIC trip that I had to do again but my group needed to go a few weeks earlier based upon scheduling issues (we have the proper permits dont worry!). We are planning on doing the exact same route June 9-13. Our itinerary is as follows:

Day one: Cottonwood trailhead to High Lake

Day two: High Lake over New Army Pass then on to Sky Blue Lake

Day three: Sky Blue to Upper Crabtree Lake (short day on purpose)

Day four: Upper Crabtree over Discovery Pinnacle to the main trail, up to the summit, down the switchbacks to Trail Camp

Day five: Out the main trail to the best pancake breakfast on earth!

I am concerned about the switchbacks and the drop from Discovery Pinnacle onto the main trail being difficult to pass a few weeks earlier than last year. Last year was dry in that area but it was slippery enough without snow!

Do any of you Mt Whitney experts have any input for us? Your advice and comments would be most appreciated, thank you

Steve

Going over New Army pass on June 10th means your very likely going to need at minimum an ice axe, last year I went over New Army on June 8th and I used crampons also but the snow was very soft and they could not perform like they should but if your going over it very early that snow is going to be hard and they will help allot, I personally hate having to cut foot holds in the snow it's too slow.

Now it was possible to avoid the snow completely in some places but it would turn into a very long boulder climb to the top.

My advice is to bring both and know how to use them!

NAP is essentially clear, as posted elsewhere.

The slope below Discovery Pinnacle you should have more info on, as things get closer.

My concern would be the north side of Crabtree Pass. It's a fairly steep area, and may still be snow covered, with some pretty hard snow, and I'm not sure anyone will be able to give you info on this, between now and then.