Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Late October hike advice

I am planning on hiking Mt. Whitney (solo) on either Sat. 10/21 and Sun. 10/22, or as a one-day hike on Sun. 10/22. I am looking for as much advice as I can get. Right now I have a one day permit, but am hoping to be able to pick up a no-show overnight permit.
Weather - it may be too far off, but I assume I should count on snow. Is the main trail generally passable that late in October? What is the best way to keep checking the weather forecast?
Hike - I climbed Langley in late July in a one day trip from Golden Trout Camp. Everyone tells me Whitney is an easier hike. Any comments?
Altitude - I had no problems at all on the Langley climb, but then we had camped at what I guess was around 10,000 feet for four days before the climb. Is the fact I did fine on Langley an indication my body should do fine on Whitney, or should I chalk that up to acclimatization alone?
Night hike - I am assuming I will not get an overnight permit and will thus start around 3:00 am on Sunday, if not earlier. What is the trail like the first three hours, i.e. in the dark and maybe in the snow.
Crazy ?- I am 46, pretty good shape (swim a hard mile every day) and am flying in from the Deep South to do this climb. Am I crazy. I fully accept the possibility of arriving in Lone Pine only to have to turn around and drive back to LAX due to weather conditions. Safety first.
I'd appreciate any advice anyone can give me.
Thanks,

Hans,

One thing that might hinder your trip is whether the snow is completely piled up by then. In that case, the Portal Road might not even be open up to the trailhead. Of course, that would dictate winter camping/climbing skills also... not sure how you rate at those?

If you're flying all the way out here, at least have an alternative plan for something else!

By the way, if the snow has dumped by then, depending on snow conditions it could be a total slog (loose and powdery), or real slick (icy, crampons, etc.) This October is turning out to be real interesting with the weather.

Gusto

> What is the best way to keep checking the weather forecast?

Watch this board, and Dennis Mattinson's daily reports. Also, click on the Whitney Portal Store link at the bottom of this page, then click the weather link. There are links to several good weather sites.

> am hoping to be able to pick up a no-show overnight permit.

Call the Wilderness Permit number occasionally -- I would hope people will call and cancel when they decide not to go. WP number: 760-873-2483 (and then press 0). It is open every day between 8 AM and 4:30 PM.

With snow on the trail already, there will be lots of no-shows, so you should be able to walk in and get one of those for overnight every day from now on.

Hiking from Golden Trout Camp: With 4 days acclimatization, most people would have no trouble. This trip will be different, but you won't know how different until you try it.

Hiking in the dark: If there is snow down at that level, it will likely be really deep above Trail Camp, and your chances of getting to the summit will be diminished. The trail is easy to follow. If there is snow, there will be a beaten path to follow.

Crazy? Nope. But you may not make the top with these conditions.

Mt. Langley is harder from about the 12,500' level before that time Mt. Whitney is harder.

Weather...go to the NWS and move the little square to the elevation you will be going to and you will get a forecast for that spot. I, also, use the real time reporting station of California Water Resources Board...Crabtree Reporting Station. Between these two I get a fairly accurate picture of the weather.

The Main Trail is what it is. In early November 2005 I watched someone take 20 minutes to work their way through the cables while descending while taking a break at Trail Camp. In other years, I have gotten as far a very frozen Lone Pine Lake, have gotten snowed of the mountain before Lone Pine Lake, blown away at Trail Camp or ran into white out conditions at Trail Camp. 2005 was the best year for weather but snow on the switchbacks was the limiting factor.

The weather the day of your hike, your skills equipment and risk tolerance will be the determining factors.

I did the MMWT in late October 2005, turned around just above the cables, lots of Ice and Snow, and no crampons and Axe.

Went back on November 26,2005, equipped with Crampons, and ice axe. We installed crampons at the cables on the way up, and wore them almost to outpost camp on the way down. The trail was very icy all the way down. Temp was 0 at trail crest, and winds were gusting to 70mph, sustained at 30mph +. It was cold, very cold. The ledge above the cables( missing cable section) the switch backs, and the cols after Trail crest are all pretty sketchy with heavy snow, and ice. We made it. The fatigue was gone quickly and the frost bite went away after a few weeks.

Summitted on 9/25/06 weather was beautiful, I was in shorts at the summit and made it from summit to portal in 4 hours. Much more pleasent experience.

Either way, warm or cold, it is a memorable experience

Thanks everyone for the responses. After following the posts on this message board, both in this thread and in general (Ken's posting about "Death trap on the upper mountain in October" in particular made me realize I need to re-evaluate), I realize it is unlikely I will be able to summit this year. I simply do not possess the technical winter climbing skills to allow me to safely get up the mountain - and back down. Hopefully the road to Whitney Portal Store will be open in late October so I can do a day hike to Outpost Camp or maybe even Trail Camp, get a view of the summit, and live to come back another day. I have to say this though, after sitting on top of Langley this summer and looking over at Whitney, I am inexplicably drawn to this mountain. I will reach the summit one day.
Hans

Hans,

I don't know if you're still planning on going there that weekend, but there will definitely be some overnight permits available for that weekend. I am going to cancel 6 overnight permits, partly becuase of the weather forcasts, and also because of people cancelling on me. Looks like I'll have to wait until next year to do the summit, hopefully I can get a better date.