Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mendel Couloir Conditions and info

Has anyone been up on the "Right Mendel Couloir" this season? We are headed up in a couple days.

Also how serious is the rock climbing near the top? I have read 5.6 and I have read class 4/5...I am trying to figure out if we should take rock shoes (sandbagged 5.6) or if will be pretty mellow.

there are several climbing routes up the east face from 5.4 to 5.10 in addition to the mountaineers route which is class 3 or 4.

With a name like Sierra Sam, you think that you'd realize that the "Right Mendel Couloir" is on Mt. Mendel. I've seen no references to routes on the East Face of Mt. Mendel and AFAIK it does not have a Class 3 " Mountaineer's Route".

Gene,

Try this question on summitpost.com, more technical climbers on that site. I haven't climbed Mendal in many years so no info.