Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board day hike 10/15/06

My question, is that assuming snow gets dumped up there tonight (thursday) and tomorrow, but if it doesn't snow again before Sunday, October 15 (the forecast even says sunny for next thursday), do you all think the trail will be passable to the summit without crampons (or at least with crampons but with no experience, i.e. nothing to crazy too traverse)?

thanks a lot for your advice. I have summited Whitney once before (it was in mid August) and there was a little snow along the crest but it was passable in hiking boots.

Also, anyone know a ranger station to call for trail conditions? I remember when I climbed it before there was a sort of official info source which at the time stated "crampons recommended"
I can't remember where we got that info though.

thanks again for your help.

See Kurt Wedberg's thread: Fall 2006 Conditions on the Main Whitney Trail .

Also see the orientation notes post on the Visitors Center .

As the summer winds down, the temporary workers who work as rangers are laid off, and the patrols are few and far between. My experience is that often, this board is the source of information for the USFS visitor center.