Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board HST Current Conditions

Hi All,

Love this board! Does anyone have any current beta on conditions on the HST especially Kaweah Gap, the Keyhole and Precipice Lake. We will be doing the Crossing starting next weekend, 6/26 and will be hitting the Gap on Monday, 6/29. We will have axes, etc.,but just curious.

Thanks,
Mark

This is from Memorial Day but I'm betting the conditions are about the same or better: http://www.snwburd.com/bob/trip_reports/eagle_scout_1.html

Thanks for the info, Tom. Excellent trip report. Our trip will be a tad slower than that one. Ha Ha

Will be attempting the same trip a week later, starting on the 1st, hopefully reaching the portal on the 6th. So any info on trail conditions would be awesome!

Also interested. Does anyone know the sort of hazards and exposure one might encounter on the Kaweah Gap at this time? That descriptions included a hazardous snow field crossing in a deep gorge that might spook some people on my trip.

Maybe some ice axing could be used to make some solid boot tracks? Setup guidelines?

Heading in 6/26.

Our group will be starting on 27th or 28th depending on wilderness permit. We will be doing a leisurely hike, coming out on 6th. Perhaps we'll see your groups in passing; take turns kicking steps up and over the gap.
Have a good trek all.

Reasonably up to date info can be found here:

http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/trailcond.htm

According to the 6/21 report, Kaweah Gap is still mostly snow with winter gear/skills recommended.

Thanks for that link. Pretty good info, but the info marked 7/26 is a little suspicious (today is 7/9).