Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Middle Pal

Anyone out there know how far the approach is up to Middle Pal, just trying to plan how much time I would need to summit.
Would be coming in via the south fork big pine creek.

Thanks,

Phil

I think it is about 7.5 miles each way. I did it a few years ago and was not in great shape, but made it in 13 hours round trip.

Hi Phil,
I just climbed Middle Pal over the weekend.

http://brentcoe.smugmug.com/gallery/9232086_h93PE

Its about 6 miles or more to finger lake. In the morning, it took us 4 hours to finish the approach, 2 hours to climb the route, and 50 minutes to descend the route. I was with 2 friends that were having their first sierra class 3 14er experience and I think on my own I could have shaved the times down to closer to 2 hours for the approach (above finger lake) and an hour to climb the route, not counting rest breaks.
-Brent

hangdog: 13 hours car to car?

Middle Pal is doable as a day trip or as a easy overnighter.

I thought it was less than 7.5, but I could be wrong on that. I did MP in about 9.5 hrs car to car in 2007, and that was having never been on the trail before, talking to other climbers for 30 minutes at the base, and 15 minutes at the summit.

Made it to June lake in time for my brothers birthday dinner, than back home to san diego. All in a push, super fun day!

i believe the approach is 6 miles if you cut above finger lake to the base of the peak. the peak is something like 1000 to 1500 ft class 3 scramble.
i am planning to scramble up it on friday, with some buddies. i will write controversial trip report when i get back! mid pal better than switzerland, or something to that effect!

Dude, the Swiss Alps have both the Matterhorn and the Eiger. Pick something in Italy.

Mike and I may end up on Middle Pal on Saturday if we get skunked at the VC on Friday (Plan A is the MR.) We want a hand-delivered TR before you leave the area.

hey, Richard, awsome on the 7 weekends in a row on Whitney. Better than Europe i bet!
that is a good idea, i'll trash italy!

Thanks a lot for the info guys, beautiful pictures Brent!

Wow, 7 weekends in a row for Richard, you must be single, my wife would kill me!

Phil

BTW, nice photos Brent. Should have mentioned that earlier.

Thanks.

I am married, but my wife is living in L.A. right now (work) and doesn't have weekends free, so I'm making the most of it by heading to the mountains as much as possible. It'll be a whole lot different if she ever changes her mind about the big (ugly) city and moves back to Ridgecrest.

Just had a frivolous thought Richard as I wondered how hard
it would be for your wife to find a job for my wife? I need
weekends free to climb! Hold the hate comments, I did say frivolous.

Brent,

Did you guys need crampons to get across the glacier?
I plan on going over labor day weekend.

Thanks,

Phil

just did the east face on friday. the approach is 7 miles. no need for crampons. i used my ice ax., but that was almost unnecessary.