Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board trail status?

what is the condition of the trail when it comes to water crossings?
I have heard the recent rains have caused creeks to attain river depth status making some crossing waist deep. Is there any truth to these stories?
We are day hiking on the 18th and hope to get an understanding of the most recent obstacles mother nature may have tossed our way?

Hi,
My girlfriend and business partner did the single day hike and summited last Thursday. I know the trail as have been to the top three times in the past few years.
They reported, as I think others have, that there is still an abundance of water. Several of the stream crossings require removal of shoes and socks or the use of trash bags as waders. When they ascended the log crossing had been swept apart but I believe this has since been repaired, Doug Sr can probably confirm.
The trail is also rutted in places due to run off.
There was also quite a lot of snow still around from last winters heavy deposits.

Be prepared for more water than normal and anticipate a slower ascent than you might normally have hoped for. My guess would be to add up to 2 hrs for the trail conditions and water.

Hope this helps.

We have a group of 8 doing the day hike summit on the 14th and find it interesting that 'waders' are still needed for the creek crossings. We leave in a day with internet access so can anyone confirm 100% that this is the case so we can prepare/be prepared. Thanks.

I summitted on Sunday, and did not even consider taking my shoes off at any water crossing. The log crossing just before lone pine lake is in good shape. The crossing before that is easily crossed with the large stones that are in place. There's one or two very small crossings. I would say that all crossings would be fairly easy for just about everyone.

Agree . I was there summit 8th, descent 9th feet dry.

thanks for the great info.
I am relieved that taking a 34 degrees bath at 4 am will not need to take place as part of my efforts to reach the summit.

I will be up at the same time camping at out post camp

please remember that people are sleeping there and not to point flash lites at the tents and yell "look people are camping"

this sounds lame but people really do it

I am also day-hiking on the 14th. I usually move quickly and quietly through TC and stop near Mirror Lake for a snack break. Should still have full moon coverage for that day so lights may not be necessary.
Might be less temptation to stop and gab there if the downed tree right by the stream crossing wasn't so convenient.

Good luck to those on the 14th. Wish I could have joined you but my back flared up last weekend so I had to send my wife and 15 yr son without me this morning to Onion Valley campground to acclimate for a couple of days. Bummer having trained all year to come up lame a week before but that mountain will be there next year for me.

I was there yesterday and found the trail in "okay" shape since the 7/31 "event". Lots of sand once you get near Lone Pine Lake. Above that a good number of rocks are on the trail all the way to TC. Above that it was just a trudge to the summit. GREAT weather !!! 50's all day above Trail Crest.
No problems with water crossings anywhere. The logs are back in place and the water under the logs has gone down quite a bit from June and July.

Does anyone know if crampons are needed up towards the summit?

No crampons needed. There was only one very small patch of snow (maybe 30 yards wide) near the very top, but it is easy to cross without crampons and it's a fairly safe spot in the event of a trip/fall.

Thank you my good man!
Hopefully, I'll be hiking through this patch of snow on the morning of August 18th!