Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mountaineer's Route this coming weekend 1/10-1/11

You know, I've been to LPL when it's been -10 to -15 (looked up the data on the same site as Mike above for 1-12-07), actually it was my first snow camp, too. The guys were up at Trail Camp for a chance to icebox themselves last December, but that included very high winds. It can happen, but I think we've come full circle on the embellishment bit...

Richard, did you use the ledges or go through the bushes?

No ledges required. (It looked like it would have taken a lot winter mountaineering skill to climb up, and over, the ledges.)

When I went up on the first, there were a couple of spots where I had to part some branches to get thru, but it could hardly be called bushwhacking.

It is amazing that you got through so easily after the others took 11 hours. All I can think is that they must have taken a different path than you.

Richard, did you use our trail? My post earlier was hardly an embellishment BTW, wish you could have been there to cut that trail. props to jhodlof who did about 90 percent of the trail breaking.

Up to the where the route crosses over from the south side to the north (near the E-ledges), I was following a sled track. (Turns out there were two that were dropped just above where you drop down to cross the stream for the ledges). From there on (to LBSL and beyond), there was an excellent snowshoe track. I turned left for Thor, just beyond a few tent platforms near the lake.

Being a lightweight has its advantages... I carried snowshoes, but never felt the need to put them on. I punched thru a few times on the way up Thor, but never went in much deeper than my knees.

I am curious how your climb went, if indeed it did. I am hoping to get down there either this weekend or the next, but the prospect of postholing for 12+ miles makes it hard to get motivated. If possible could you post how the conditions were during your ascent?

Thanks,
Kevin

I'd been concerned about softening snow in the afternoons (the way the forecast look for this week). My guess is that there's been a lot of consolidation due to the warm days/cold nights. (At least that's what I'm telling myself will happen tomorrow.)

You can look at my photo albums from last Saturday and New Year's Day to see what the conditions were like previously.