Ever since I topped out on Whitney in July 1996 after completing the JMT from Yosemite I have wanted to ski down the mountain. A few years back I picked up Paul Richins book "50 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Summits in California" which has been my companion on quite a few backcountry trips in the Northern Sierra. Every time I pick up that book (which is always in my bedside table)I have gazed at #43 "Mt. Whitney". Last September a few friends and I decided to run from Echo Lake to the top of Tallac and then down to Fallen Leaf Lake. While I was running next to my buddy Broc I asked him if he wanted to Climb and ski Whitney...
4/15/2010
After fueling up in Lone Pine with some Mexican Food we headed up the road where we drove around the Road Closed Sign and made it to Whitney Portal around 2PM.The place was electric with anticipation.
We loaded up our packs and headed to LBSL. The hike up Lower Lone Pine Creek was a pain. We decided to forgoe the ledges but instead faced deep mank snow and the creek crossings on the melting snow bridges was a bit dicey. After hiking (not skinning) for a couple of hours we made it LBSL where we camped few hundred yards from the lake.
4/16/2010
The following morning we got a late start after breakfast and coffee. We were finally able to put on out skis and start skinnig.
We skinned to UBSL had a snack and the made our way to Iceberg Lake.
Approaching Iceberg was truely awesome as we skinned underneath the Day and Keeler Needles.
We were the only people at Iceberg and we figured out why when it hit 8Deg in our tent that night but the stars were amazing.
4/17/2010
Got another late start after breakfast. The Couloir was in perfect shape for climbing and after 1.5 hours we dropped our skis. The Couloir felt like it was a consistent 35 to 40 degrees with firm snow.
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We proceeded to notch. I had been a bit concerned about the exposure above the notch to the summit plateau so I had hauled a 60M rope just in case we decided we wanted it. The first 150' was mixed snow and rock so I lead to above the rock section and then belayed Brock to my stance. The next 250' was all snow so we short roped to the summit and took in the view....
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While we were up there we met the M.C. Trip Crew and struck up a conversation with Richard. We decided to join forces and we particiaped in the 200' double rappell off of the summit plateau and then we set my rope up to rappell the final 150' to the notch. We strapped on our skis around 2:30 and headed down the Couloir. Turns out that we waited a bit too long on the summit so the couloir was completly in shade and the consistency of boiler plate! Super Fun!
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We headed back down to Iceberg, packed up, Jim Q brought me my rope and then we skiied almost to the where the MR Route leaves the Main Trail. The skiing was best from Iceberg to LBSL... nice corn on rolling terrain.
It was a fantastic trip that I would like to do again. The mountain was magical as was the Pizza and Beer in Lone Pine after the Trip!
