Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Memorial Day Summit

Has anyone hiked the MR during the Memorial Day weekend? If so, what were the conditions like? Was there still a lot of snow?

I know that this is a vague question and of course there's plenty of room for variance but if anyone could chime in that would be great.
Thanks

-Canuck

You may want look over the posts from Last May. Page #44 will get you close, and you can read several trip reports by various people.

Also, you did not indicate whether you are planning to day hike, loop over to the main trail, or stay overnight. Each option has different strategies.

My TR and links to pics are here:
http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/34847/page/0/fpart/1

We summited May 12th last year. It was definitely a low snow year, though, and the conditions are nothing like this year. But it might give you some ideas, at least.

GOod luck!

-L

I did a trip on June 2 & 3rd, 2006 where the snow conditions were closer to what they may be this year - it's still a bit early to know for sure though. It wasn't the MR though - it was the standard route with an overnight.

If you're curious about what the conditions were, there are pics, and a trail report on Webshots here:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/551180923ILRmrY?vhost=outdoors

In a heavy snow year, on Memorial day weekend, the MR can have snow all the way from the start of the North Forth...about 9000 feet. In a light snow year snow you can count on snow above Lower Boy Scout Lake...around 10500 to 1100 feet.

This picture was taken on Memorial Day weekend in May 2003. That year the snowfall was running a little above normal.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1215987825061435028Gwhdro

This picture was taken at Iceberg Lake on Memorial Day weekend in May 2004. That year the snowpack was running about 35% below normal

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1216010977061435028Kstvkx

This picture was taken from Thor Peak toward Iceberg Lake, Memorial Day weekend 2005...following a very heavy snow year.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1356299426061435028tJxOaM

This picture was taken from Mt Russell a month later (late June)..looking toward Mt. Whitney It clearly shows a bunch of snow everywhere.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1382961002061435028XiHbXa

And finally, ...Memorial Day weekend 2006...snow pack was a little above normal. This picture was taken on the north side of the pinnacle pass, between Upper Boy Scout Lake and Iceberg Lake.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2482766240061435028BFGaXh

You would need to have ice axes and crampons (and know have to use them) for sure this Memorial day weekend if you want to summit Mt. Whitney up the Mountaineers Route...or any other route

I forgot about last years Memorial Day weekend 2007, the driest year since 1877

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2828020750061435028koaBPe

Snow was not really much of an issue....fortunately this year is already a much better snow year

If you are coming bring a lot of 4th season stuff, you will need it.

I was up mid-May last year and the trail was covered in snow from the 97 Switchbacks to Trail Crest.

As previously stated, last winter was record setting dry.

However, this question is better suited for mid-May.

In most normal snow years, a one day hike up the MR to the top of Mt Whitney is a challenging thing on Memorial Day weekend. Usually there is considerable snow above Lower Boy Scout Lake. Even with crampons and Ice Axe, going is much slower in the snow and time becomes an issue. With that much snow the travel time to the top can easily be 2-3 hours longer. That makes a difficult hike that much harder. If it is cold and the snow is hard, you have a chance. If it warms up you will be postholing so much by 10:00 am you will be hating life.

That being said, Memorial Day weekend is a wonderful time to spend some time in the area, hiking to Lower Boy Scout Lake or some of the closer peaks, like Thor Peak.