Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board First timer question - water crossings / footwear

My son and I will be doing Whitney for the first time at the end of June. What are the water crossings like in a year like this one? Do we need to bring alternate footwear for the crossings to keep our boots from getting soaked?

I've climbed Whitney 3 times in June, July, and August and have never had any really difficult stream crossings along the way. There are several spots on the main trail that require a variety of stepping-stone hops and skips, but unless you hit a really hot day with lots of snow melt, hiking or climbing boots and caution should serve you well. With all of the snow up high at this time of the year, gators really help, though.

You might want to bring an extra pair of socks.

I agree with the suggestion to bring extra socks. The water is high right now due to the runoff and I walked out with wet feet yesterday!

Surf's Up on the North Fork!!

If you're on the regular main trail, I doubt you'll have any trouble with water crossings. The log bridges and strategically placed rocks are still high enough to keep your feet dry. I was on that trail yesterday and didn't have any problems.

The idea to pack extra socks isn't a bad one, though. You can slip off a rock or the log bridge at any time - even in August - and wet is still wet.

You can avoid "hangin' ten" like Moose by hiking up the old stock trail and avoid those stream crossings untily you get to the logs near Lone Pine Lake.

Old stock trail...Did I say that?

Have fun...We are off to the holy city of Lone Pine!...