Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trail Crest Conditions?

Can anyone speak to the conditions of the main trail from Trail Crest to the summit? If I recall correctly it was late May last year when this section melted out and by the time I made my first trip of the year in mid-June this section of the route was almost entirely clear.

With this years higher snow totals I'm curious to know the conditions, will be up on 6/1. Thanks, can't wait for that giant pancake.

Hi I don't see anymore snow than normal, the upper section of the switchbacks are starting to show , the snow in the Portal is gone and the trail is clearing quickly to Lone Pine Lake and Lower Boyscout Lake . Groups are making it to the summit now on both routes . Temps are staying nice and cold so post holing is less than if we get a warm spell and conditions will be very different.

Conditions now are for experienced hikers other should stay clear for several more weeks until a boot track is in and they can follow the track.


Up north I think they got more snow than normal but we are abvout normal if not less when we turned the water on we checked the supply and it was about 2/3 , the pond has not overflowed, and we have left the boards in .

The backside, Trailcrest to the summit is mostly clear, the patch near the summit hasn't turned many around.

LOOK AT THE PICTURES FROM LAST WEEKEND .Thanks Doug

Terrific, thanks Doug sounds like conditions are similar to last year at the same time...appreciate your feedback see you in a few weeks.

cannot find pics from last weekend. any hints on where to look? thanks in advance

Hi Thanks Fish The photo at the trailcrest sign shows how dry the backside is and the ones around trailcamp show the rocks coming out on the switchbacks.

We will see more evaporation on the upper elevation than melt so the sun exposure is a large factor.

Say 15-20 years ago we would have snow behind the store until July and and several years we would hire plows to clear the road in the campground and around the pond so everything could open by the holiday weekend , we don't see the big late storms the last few years this far south , we are getting the high wind cold air and clouds but not the snow. Thanks Doug