Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Baldy this weekend

Anyone have current conditions for Baldy this week? With the odd winter I'm trying to decide between:

Goretex mountain boots, low hikers, trail runners?

Crampons, insteps, microspikes, nothing?

Ice axe, poles?

Many thanks,

Microspikes & poles.

+1, i've been up weekly using a low hiker with microspikes and poles. the spikes come in awfully handy in shady spots while gaining the ridge.

Maybe we'll see a few of the imported knockoff spikes Friday morning!

Thanks for the beta.

What about boots? I usually hike in trail running shoes, except winter. I have some new boots I'm itching to try out (Scarpa Charmox, and praying for snow), but would they be too stiff if this is mostly dry trail?

I tried a new pair of stiff souled mountaineering boots on the Manker Flats trail recently and paid for it. The trail is just too dry to justify stiff souled boots. For me on that trail, trail runners and microspikes are the way to go.

As Greenmountainboy mentioned, there are very few places where you will need them, mostly between 8,200 feet and 9,000 feet. You will probably need them in the rock garden just beyond the ski hut and will need them through the forested area above the rock garden, but after about 9,000 feet, the need for spikes will be few and brief.

Brent N

Thanks. I've been up there winter and summer, but this year it's neither and current info is helpful. Thanks again.

Depends on the route...
I was on the Backbone Saturday and there is a long stretch of crusty/icy snow before Chair 4 and what would be tricky ice over the actual backbone.

http://sangabrielmnts.myfreeforum.org/Backbone_visit_about4428.html

I'd say flip flops and a bikini. Seriously though the poles and microspikes are wise.
As far as boots, i'd say you could be best in trail shoes. although those Scarpa boots dont look awful for this hike.
see my pics from a few weeks ago.
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1405383

Well I don't think anyone wants to see this old guy in a bikini. And the windchill this weekend...

I also take poles, usually crampons or at least insteps, but given the dry ground that sounds overkill.

And walking in those stiff boots on dry trail would be torture too. So trail runners it is.

Trail generally clear except hard ice on climb from bowl to west ridge. Most of us used microspikes and poles which worked fine.