Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Switchback Conditions

I really hate to be a problem but the trail conditions get burried in various "posts." Simply put how are the current conditions and what is a reasonable precidiction for July 1st?

that seems to be a tuff one to get answered,. im leaving july 12, with my 10 yr old and assume the trail will be clear, but no one has actually said so john

Guys,

Give people a couple of days after the weekend to post this past weekend's conditions, save some of that enthusiasm for the mountain, you're gonna need it.

As noted in Bob R's report <A href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003203">Mt. Whitney via the Trail, June 19/20</A> people have not using the switchbacks because there is still a lot of snow between about switchback 45 and switchback 50 and there is an alternative route up the snow slope. As a result, the snow is not getting trampled on and the ice is not getting chopped up in the switchbacks. Until we get some reports of some pioneers going up the switchbacks, we can only assume that they are not safe for people without the proper equipment. Please be patient. Hopefully, we will hear more from trips up this weekend.

Bob R you just mentioned something that I've wondered about. Has anyone thought of either presently or in the past about going to the cabled section of the switchbacks with a snow shovel and just getting to work? It would be a major and awesome act of random kindness. I imagine the rangers would just turn a blind eye to this if a benevolent soul went up and did this without having a permit. I mention this because it would be foolish to get a permit just to go up and shovel snow. After shoveling you could just sit on the spade and ride it down the mountain! I was joking about the last part. I know you get out and do a ton of hikes. Perhaps you or some other strong hiker such as Rick Kent could go up and do some shoveling sometime soon? Perhaps though this might go against some mountaineering ethics. I don't know. Let me know what you think. Heck I'd be willing to go up and do it if I lived in Lonepine or fairly close to the Whitney area.

Rafael

Sounds like you've had some experience in dealing with the government/Forest Service, Bob.

I day hiked the Main trail with my son-in-law on 06/29/05. We used the switchbacks both going up and coming down. A little care was needed passing the cable section but once past them the going was fairly easy. There was more snow to cross just before trail crest but the path through was well beaten and presented no problem. I would say more than half the people who summited that day used the switchbacks.

Hiked to the summit on the 30th. Used the switchbacks up and down. No crampons or ice ax needed. Weather in the high 60s low 70s. Nights at Outpost camp around mid 40s. Great trip.

Dear PhilB and Hiker Dave:

Thanks for the switchback reports. We are from Kentucky and our entry date is 13 Jul 05. We plan a two-day hike to the top and back. Your info was very encouraging.

Timex

Thanks. I am glad to hear that people are now using the switchbacks. Bob R also posted a report on the switchbacks for his <A href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003288">July 2/3 Trip</A>.