Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Meysan Lake to Irvine to McAdie--any advice

Considering hiking into Meysan Lake Friday and climbing Irvine on Saturday. Always wanted to climb McAdie and wondered what the traverse along the saddle was like. Moreover, need to climb Muir to complete 14ers in the area and wondered if a round trip Irvine-McAdie-Muir is feasible in a "long" day.

Have already climbed Mallory and to the top of Arc Pass so I have a bit if an understanding of the area. If anyone has done this and could answer a few questions I would appreciate it.

Specifically,

(1) If camping at Meysan can Irvine-McArdie and back to Meysan Lake be done in a day--in these conditions? (assuming experienced climber at 1.5 miles/hour--looks like it is feasible?)
(2) Is it possible to reach Muir also and if so how much time should be added?
(3) Is the trail obvious as it looks like it simply follows the ridge line.

I appreciate any information you can provide.

I've passed by McAdie every time I've been up there so I can't offer any advice on that aspect of your trip, but...

... there is a chute on the "west" side of McAdie which doesn't look too bad. Once down off of McAdie, a high traverse over to Discovery Pinnacle and the Main Trail is fairly easy. Mike and I did the Marsh to Discovery portion of this traverse last Sunday. You can see what the terrain looks like if you look at our photo albums from last weekend.

Another question I can't answer is how long it would take to get back to the Meysan Lake area after climbing Muir. If you didn't double back "over" McAdie, you'd have to contour around to Crabtree Pass and then Green Pass to get to the LeConte Plateau. That's a lot of ground to cover on such short days.

(It took us about an hour to get to Discovery Pass. I'd add about another hour to get up Muir from there.)

Hey Richard

Thanks for the info--I did look at you and Mike's trip report. (great pictures)

I think my Muir desire is a bit of a reach (pun intended) from Meysan but by the sounds of it can probably do Irvine/McArdie in a day. I may also consider getting MT permits if available and hit McArdie from Consulation lake and then could get Muir. (You know what it is like to have a 14er on the list and just within reach.)

I will be climbing with Souloscambler in case you are anywhere above us that you can shout down a hello, like you did from Thor. What are you guys climbing this weekend?

That was going to be my suggestion. Arc Pass looked "interesting" last weekend. You could head up it and tag the two peaks from there and then Muir via the Main Trail, or the direct route up the bowl to Trail Crest.

(Main Trail well consolidated. Tracks up the bowl, so no trail-breaking required.)

Thanks.

I'm going to be wandering around up there somewhere. I had Earlene laughing when I told her I'm going to climb Whitney on Saturday with a costume on. (Probably as a devil; she suggested I go up as a moose.) I have not decided what I'll do on Friday and Sunday, other than trying to stay out of the way of the SAR operations going on up there.

What's your schedule?

Yup--you are right-

However,I like the latter as it sounds like a fast food item--buy 2 McArdie's and get a free milk shake

Hey Richard

I never thought about a Halloween costume-- that would be very funny to see!

We are leaving Fri around 9am from LA--picking up passes and hiking to either Meysan or somewhere on the MT for base camp, depending on what we decide and permit availability. Saturday will be the peak bagging day and then back out Sunday afternoon.

Stop in at the Porttal store before you head up on Friday. If you mention to Doug which way you're going, I can get that from him when I get down Friday afternoon.

Will do--hopefully we will run into you out there somewhere!!