Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 2016 Main Trail Conditions

I was lucky enough to score an overnight permit during the 1-day sale. Looks like we will be heading gonna try to summit and then spend the night at Outpost Camp on our way back down in the middle of May.
I've seen some pictures from some recent hikes but, I'm hoping that anyone who adventures into any part of the trail might provide some feedback regarding general conditions.

Hi Thanks Bob for starting this thread. Mid May ????? It could be great weather , some snow on the lower elevations and by 12'000' you will need to consider going off trail onto a 1500' snow slope of about 30 degrees . Winter mountaineering skills should be a plus, some make it with limited experience but many turn back after looking at the slope and come back later in the season.

I posted some dribble about the snow level on another thread but to repeat snow level now is about 10,000' and we have had snow all week so the 500' melt rate I talked about didn't happen this week. We also had high winds so drifts above Outpost camp may be knee-waist deep in sections.

Good news if the system clears and we have warming conditions the melt will resume during the day , but will freeze overnight or late afternoon on the upper sections making the surface solid in the early mornings and post holing in the afternoons on the lower sections.



The critical questions will not be conditions but experience level by the reporting party. Very easy for a person with experience to reach the summit any time of the year. But a person that has a dry trail with warm weather and limited snow experience may find it very difficult until the trail clears.


Watch the webcam and look for the flat surface mountain in the center, That is Thor. Summit elevation of Thor is 12000' when that clears it is a good indicator of snow level also I post photos as the switch backs clear above Trail camp. I post on facebook AS Doug Thompson.
My thoughts are pictures will give you a chance to see the changes week by week, you have about 3 weeks so conditions will be changing everyday until the day you arrive. I can speak that we will see several more snow events before that time.
Thanks again for posting I will leave this as the 2016 Main Trail Thread so others please post updates here.

OK so the several events before mid May are in full force now. We had snow the past three days and high winds. some reached the summit between storms but with the wind came drifts and made travel very slow.

Update high winds again this week some new snow and most turning back at trail camp several made it to trail crest but with the drifts about waist deep turned around. Would think mountaineer's route about the same ,

These condition are about normal for the season , last year we had 5 weeks of unstable weather this period and many years we see some late season storms , Recall Utah spring skiing.Our record some years ago was 10" on the tables out side the Store June 19. much more higher up. that may have been the year one of the guides had had enough fun 2 days to walk downhill from upper Boyscout Lake.And felt he and the group might die before they reached the Portal.

I took a drive to Bishop this afternoon and on the north facing slopes heavy snow from the past week, they are shining so we may get some slides if the temps stay up. It was 83 in the Valley this afternoon, and a light breeze 5-10 coming from the south.
Most turned back at trail camp this week several made the crest and I heard one person was camping about 1/2 mile from the summit and his plan was to go up .Most said the track were covered above trail crest.
Again if you plan on reaching the summit join several groups and break ONE TRACK ,look back to our Thor hike some years ago and see how it works.
You will get wet so bring extra socks and pants. If you think that Trailcamp is your turn around go lite and make it a nice day hike. As always buying/ renting a lot of gear just adds weight, turning back
My thoughts are give it 7-10 days and some will make a track across the back side and up the chute. It will still be snow/ice travel for many miles but the route finding will be established.

Watch the webcam and Thor/ Mountaineer's route for clearing.

Be safe this period and late October are what we call the accident months.

OK just talked with a hiker coming down he made it again about 1/2 mile from the summit but talked with two guys coming down from the summit , their comment what would take 1/2 hour took 2 hours , the last short section from the last window to the summit.
Others heading up so the track may be started on the back side BUT STILL NOT A HIKE FOR an easy summit.

So East Buttress climbed and several more made it up the main canyon, all reports are track is in very narrow and at times they needed to hold the wall!
Mountaineers Route still deep snow but with effort they are making it. These are climbers so know the conditions and one guy said back east he had about 70 days of ice climbing.

The count now stands at most with experience on both route are making the summit.Don't miss the experience part of this statement. Like above yesterday the young man had 70 ice climbing days this season , and today another young man with a full winter of climbing made the Mountaineers route.

The track is in on the back side and on the last 400' of the Mountaineers route.

Bring SPF 50 sunblock, gaiters and extra socks , weather pattern looks like we are in a warming cycle for a few days so the lower elevations will be wet and post hole'ing .And the upper section will start the melt/ freeze cycle.So morning to afternoon will be a different mountain.

Most heard this weekend:

1.We lost the Trail. Just past the logs before Lone Pine Lake many are following the tracks bearing right , these tracks are a old short cut that will take you up to Outpost but with snow and ice and much steeper many are getting lost and turning back . So follow the tracks that work left and up a little slab into the the thick stand of trees, you will be by the Lone Pine Lake sign in a few minutes 10 at the most ,then work straight back in the canyon on the trail.

2. Above Mirror Lake just get on the major slabs above the lake and follow the main tracks up into the Trailside Meadow area , again many are going straight up the small chute that leads to Trail Camp. The trail makes a 180 turn at the west end of Trailside Meadow and maybe hard to follow , also you will need to cross a narrow steep section that has lead to falls.
3. The snow slope up from trail camp to trailcrest was very hard!

I didn't hear 20 of us joined to break trail taking turns leading?

4. We made it to Trailcrest after many false trails and long hours.

5. Very windy at trailcrest.

One rescue from the Lone Pine Lake area , One off route on the Portal walls and one ankle injury from a short fall and that's about how it goes.

Parking signs going up this week. A few deer on the road also so watch out as you drive up or down.

Looked like someone was in trouble on Road work wall tonight but turns out several groups coming down the main trail and another coming off the ledges. More rescue work today . Be safe these changing condition will last several more weeks , until the switchbacks clear and we get warmer nights.

Got a detailed report from Bob Huey and he posted of photos on Facebook,Snow level now above Mirror Lake so the 500' melt is in play now.Bob used the trail out of Trailside Meadow since the snow is melting and post holing is a problem.
Trailcamp and up to trailcrest still covered with snow as Bob says a herd of cows heading up. Just think if all the hikers would stay in one track You would have a Trail?

Very high winds yesterday and one lost tent at Trailcamp, cooler this AM so wind may die down as the new system is here.

Stay safe as conditions are still unstable.

Sunday night recap Still cold but the wind has not been as bad , many summited and as many turned back on both canyons. Very cold and high winds Thursday- Saturday .

Several people lost control on the slope above trail camp and slid down about 1000 feet but the snow was soft near the bottom and they did not get hurt , but hit another hiker on the way down. When the rocks start showing at the bottom of the slope these slides can be fatal so understand the conditions before you start down from trail crest.

Another rescue this afternoon, several waiting at the trail head tonight for missing party members, so Have the KEYS so you can ....you know just leave your friends if they don't stay in a group and you get down first ????? Or have a plan .

Parking passes were handed out Friday, So the 1 car thing per permit is starting, When you pick up your permit please have the person giving you the permit explain where you can and can not park.

Snow line now is just before trail camp , you should make trail camp but above still going to be snow travel up the slope for several more weeks.

Three of us are coming up from the OC Saturday, 5/28, for our first summit on 5/29. Any news on trail conditions? Construction/parking lot?

Most are making Trail camp and several have made a shot at the trail not the slope but the slope is the choice for a few more days at least. Parking is still open the overflow lot had 1 car this afternoon, no construction in the Lone Pine Area during the weekends, Some road work on 395 between Kramer Junction and Ridgecrest , but I would think that will not be active on the weekend.

Bring layers, sunblock and extra socks.

This weekend we should see a track established either on the slope or the trail area.

On a side note we had a person give us the run down on gear they were sold to reach the summit , I don't think the gear will be the answer reaching the summit or not, it is how one understands and deals with the conditions .


See you on the Mountain

Wow -- what an adventure! Didn't summit but still had a great experience!
But first, arrived at Lone Pine Ranger Center at 4:50PM Saturday and ranger would not let us, or anyone else, in to get permits - "We stop that at 4:30." No mention of that on FS website or its voicemail. Bureaucrats...
Hit trailhead at 3:15AM and made good time until about trail camp. Felt some effects of altitude but snow was our real challenge. Without crampons we were toast. Switchbacks were buried and almost invisible. Gave going up the chutes a brief try but fence posting and steep slope nixed that idea. Still it was an absolutely beautiful day and a wonderful experience!
Also, met a different ranger on our way down that was 100% professional and helpful. Asked for our permit, listened to our story, and accepted our lottery email as a permit. Thank you!

Quick update more reaching the summit this week, we had a young lady solo finish the HST and many PCT hikers coming up from the back side reaching the summit, still snow past trailcamp and all are still taking the chute to reach trail crest.

Very warm the past few days so this week may see the trail start to open, I can see the top area now is clearing and the last long switchback is exposed before trailcrest.

NTD's today so hope all can get out and have a great day. We meet at Whitney Portal Road and Movie Road 8 AM. This will be our Golden Spike Day , the work today will finish the trail that we can do before a trail building crew comes in to do the wall building and steps in the fall. Thanks for all the years of work to make this happen, a trail that Joins Lone Pine to Mexico and Canada !

Also Potluck at the Hostel Tonight 7 PM.

Trail done - Check

People going up switchbacks - Check some effort but making it

Potluck Many Thanks to Maura for making a great meal and all that shared the day and evening.

Now off to bed and to all a good night!

Hi Doug,

Do you have any further updates on the switchbacks? We are planning to hike from Trail Camp up the switchbacks on Tuesday morning 6/14.

Hi Quick update system moved in late last night ,high wind and some light snow on the upper elevations. Temps may drop to freezing tonight.

Much of the switchback area is clearing but not enough people doing the trail so the area at the cables not packed down , most are still doing the chute and many are having trouble sliding down out of control, We are talking with people that have winter experience not having problems , but since the trail is blocked in the section around the cables it still might be a week or more for enough people use the trail and get a solid boot track in.

Rain again today started to clear this afternoon Temp in the Portal at 8 PM 40 Degrees so will freeze tonight at the upper elevations. Snow down to about 12000' last night and I only talked to a few that made the summit today, most left trail camp and came down this AM Campground and Portal like a ghost town.

One waiting at the trailhead for his group to get down So It does look like splitting up works. He ask if I could call someone up on the Mountain to see where they were. I didn't have the number so had to tell him no.

Young man yesterday went up the Switchbacks ? but with the fresh snow The entire mountain will be a little harder the next few days . The new snow will cover some of the old tracks , the cold nights and days will make the chute icy longer and may cover the butt tracks so be very cautious crossing these tracks.

Another slider yesterday people are not skilled at sliding head over heels and are suffering injury. Practice control before you arrive. Or at least on the slope before you go up.