Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Anyone got a crystal ball? – conditions in mid-Oct

I know it is getting late in the season for the trail to be clear, but does anyone want to venture a guess for conditions on the main trail in mid-Oct?

In particular, will the switchbacks be usable?

I have only done Whitney two times, both in early spring conditions and gone up the chute (to the right of the switchbacks) with ice axe/crampons on board.

We were hoping to have a “dry” ascent and to keep the crampons on our packs - doing a day hike.

Short days, cold and crisp in the morning. Probably no snow, maybe a dusting, no need for crampons or axe. Weather clear.

Just an educated guess, YMMV.

Bring extra bulbs and batteries for the headlamps. You'll spend a lot of time in the dark if you're dayhiking.

I summited last year on the 10th of October. Cold morning, I think high 30's. I believe the first light snow was on the 11th. Very comfortable on the hike and warmed up quite a bit as the Sun rose at Trail Camp. Gorgeous after that....Blue skies and no clouds. Waterfall at Outpost Camp was completely frozen. Most water was frozen with the exception of the spring just before Outpost. You could break the ice at Trail Camp to filter. No water on the switchbacks.

About a week later (about the 17th or so), I believe it snowed pretty good.

Don't know if this helps but this is from the Inyo website. Reporting first snow for the Whitney area:

2009 10/13
2008 10/4
2007 9/20
2006 10/3

9/20 would mean it will snow next Week!!!!

So it's clear that snow is likely in October (or earlier), but the more important questions for me are: How much? How fast? How unexpected?
If the forecast calls for clear and sunny the day I set out, and the weather turns suddenly, is it likely to turn to an inch of snow or a foot?
I was thinking of carrying microspikes rather than crampons for an October hike, with no axe (I would have poles.)
Does this seem reasonable, assuming a day with a clear forecast?

My hiking-machine son and I are also planning to dayhike Whitney on Oct 17th. We're crossing our fingers and hoping the first big snow comes after our summit run.

After several great Sierra backpacking trips, I'm finally getting a chance to climb Whitney. I'm excited but concerned about trying this is mid-October. I know the weather will be much more unpredictable. We're going to end up carrying some extra gear so we're prepared. At least we won't have to worry about carrying mosquito repellent.

My personal feeling is that the potential benefit of having crampons and an ice axe with you, and knowing how to use them, during October far outweighs the minor weight penalty. This is especially true if you plan on crossing the crest, which you will do as part of the Whitney main trail. It seems almost every October/November there is a batch of people getting rescued from the Sierra after being caught by the first bit of winter weather. Hopefully this year will be different.

Trail crest, and the traverse to it, can be nasty with ice on it. It doesn't even need to snow.

The third item I will always bring along with crampons and axe is my HELMET. Plenty of the fatalities in the Whitney area over the years might have been avoided with the proper use of these 3 items.

My friend and I plan to start out on 10/17 also so maybe we will see you. He attempted this a few years back and was turned back by an unexpected snowstorm. We'll be prepared but our best defense could be an alternative plan, like to head to Yosemite or Racetrack Playa if the weather does turn. Our overwhelming goal though is to summit Mt. Whitney. I appreciate all the great information you all are sharing here.