Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mount whitney main trail conditions

Hello all,

I was recently unsuccessful in obtaining a permit via the lottery system for a trip during the summer months. However, I do have alot of free time during the month of may to attempt a climb. My question is....how do i find up to the minute info on the status of the trail (whether you need winter equipment or not)...or has anybody here climbed it recently, or know personally of the current conditions....or how they will be throughout may? and when the earliest possible day would be to climb virtually snow free (or without the use of ice axes and crampons)?

thanks for any info/advice

kurt

Best guess: first week of June with the current snow pack. One good dump could change that.

The permit process is a mess!!! One morning last summer I arrived at the ranger Station in Lone Pine a few minuets before the doors opened to find several hikers sleeping in front of the doors to get a permit on a first come, first serve basis. Fair right? Wrong! The ranger did not give a rip who slept outside all night waiting for a permit. She simply handed out the permits available for that day to whomever managed to elbow their way to the counter first. There is plenty of room on the trail. The permit quota system is the result of the two guys running the Sequoia & Inyo National Forests being drinking buddies. These two lunkheads have unilaterally decided how many people can use the public trail like it's their front lawn.
Go ahead and hike, the Rangers don't stop anyone who looks like they know what they are doing. Enjoy and be safe.

Are there any updates from anyone who has been on the trail recently? I'm hiking in last May and any recent experiences from people on this board is helpful.

FYI, I plan to call the Ranger station a few days before I leave as well.

Me too, we have overnight permits for Friday and Saturday the 28th and 29th. We're assuming Ice axes and Crampons, but, would also like to hear a trip report from anyone who's been up there recently. Maybe someone will report after this weekend?

Tripper: I was just there on Wed, 5/5; and there are lots of day hike permits available right now during the week for the main trail (I'm thinking of getting one for this Monday). As for conditions, also on Wednesday, I talked to three people who just completed the mountaineering route and they definitely needed crampons and ice axes. I called the ranger today (Friday) and she said snow would probably stop uncramponed travel just a few miles in on the main trail. She also said that there are two mama bears with cubs that like to make their presence known. And I heard someone at the store (on Wednesday) saying it gets busier as it approaches Memorial Day, and then slows some in early June - I took that to mean that one might have a good chance of getting day hike permits for the main during those down times (but, again, crampons and axes may also be necessary).

Wow, crampons and ice axes a necessity for the Main Trail right now. I thought I'd be able to get by with crampons only. Thanks for the info.

Can anyone update the conditions along the main trail. I plan to climb on thursday in the AM on a day hike.

As for this topic, I actually understood that ice axes would be needed on the mountaineering route (no mention of the normal route). Are Ice Axes (or roping for that matter), needed on the main route?

TIA

Steve

From what I've read, roping is not needed. But I'm also curious to know the conditions on the Main Trail and the need for ice axes and crampons.

Anyone been up there lately?

I would like to second the request for recent information on the main trail's condition.I am heading up on 5/21 and would like to be prepared.
Thanks in advance.

can anyone tell me if it is still possible to obtain a pass for memorial weekend (saturday) day pass? anyone?

We were on the Main Whitney Trail on May 11-12 and it was slow-going starting just above outpost camp (mostly due to nasty weather). Crampons and ice axe are highly recommended if you plan to go any higher than trail camp as the snow stayed frozen solid into the early afternoon. We were blessed with 35kt winds at trail camp and temps got down to the low 20s, high teens at night so come prepared for cold temps.

So I guess my hopes for balmy weather and a ice free Main Trail are somewhat dashed.

is there enough snow left along the main trail to make skis useful ? how far would i be able to ski out ?