Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Chutes

I have a trip planned on the 27, we want to stick to the trail as much as possible, but I'm seeing a lot of mixed reports on the best route etc... My sister and I are taking crampons and trekking poles, and the other two group members are planning on taking snow shoes. Where are the chutes, as far as looking at a map? I haven't been up the trail in the snow, can you make it on snow shoes? Can you make it with trekking poles instead of an ice axe? Any suggestions on the best time to be on the chutes as far as the snow conditions?

Leave the snow shoes at home. Just dead weight that won't get used this time of year.

I empathize with your concerns. I think there's always a lot of discussion about the switchbacks and chute as the snow melts around this time of the year. On the map at http://www.etreking.com/eTreking/Pages/Mt%20WhitneyMap.html, the trail veers a little south as it moves west of Trail Camp. Those are the switchbacks. The chute is the snowcovered slope a bit to the north of the switchbacks. It leads pretty directly up to Trail Crest. People have posted some nice pictures of it recently. I tend to agree with person who said to leave the snowshoes at home, but I've never used snowshoes, myself. Last year I glissaded down chute, but the snow was pretty hard and icy. I wouldn't do that again. If it's like that next Monday, I think I'll just walk down, using crampons, digging in heels and hoping I don't slip. It seems prudent to carry ice axe and to know how to use it to arrest a slip.

Personally, I think the crampons are a bad idea, without an axe.

first, Bob R, an expert in this field, was up there twice last weekend, and commented that an axe was definitely needed, although may not at all, a week from now.

Second, generally, any situation in which crampons are really needed, an axe is needed more.

Third, crampons will allow you to get yourself into situations of much greater danger, in which an axe is the only way to get yourself safely out.

The snowshoes will be a hindrance, this time of year.
My thinking on the subject......

Little Mistake - Big Mistake

Little Mistake = Having crampons and an ice ax and not needing them.

Big Mistake = Not having crampons and an ice ax and needing them.

Thanks for all the imput! Any specific thoughts on treking poles instead of crampons and an ice axe? Are they worthwile? I have done a lot of reading about self arrest techniques, but haven't used an ice axe or crampons. We are planning on renting that gear, and practicing pre assent, and then being conservative with our safety depending on conditions and our skill.

Three of us went up only to the switch backs on June 10.We were not able to summit due to too much soft snow going up the chute. Poles are a must if you do not have crampons or ice axe as we did. I agree with a previouse post, no snow shoes required.