Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board main trail conditions thread 5/1/12 - 11/1/12

Went up with Brian, above, on 6/20. In case you don't get it by now, there are no remaining snow issues. Trail Camp is still a cold and windy night. Once the sun comes up, the switchbacks are downright toasty. Other than windy conditions at Trail Crest, it was a shorts/T-shirt hike along the ridge, with hardly a breeze on the summit. Bring plenty of water for the trek from Trail Camp and back - other than snow melt on the switchbacks, and one rapidly vanishing snow field behind the needles, there's none to be had. I recommend three liters. And can we please not abandon wag bags? Seriously gross, folks. We found at least a half-dozen in camp and on trail

Hello Everybody! Hopping you had a great 4! I am going in 10 days. Any body has any update on the trail conditions. Thanks.

Any updates on the trail conditions? I am going in 10 days. Thanks

we did the hike on 07.03.12 and it was beautiful day. we left really early (2am), got to the top at 10am and was back at the portal at 5pm. i was on mountain last year at the same time for a hike to trail camp and to watch badwater finish and there was snow on parts of trail from morror lake to trail camp.

this year there was none. also no snow on switchbacks. just a small field of snow on mt whitney itself (20 yards maybe).

i have only done above trail camp in august before and trails crest and whitney seemed to be a lot more rocky. does the trail smooth out over time?

smugmug videos

I summitted on July 4 and found the upper part of the 97 switchbacks, and the trail between the JMT junction and the portal, to be much rockier than usual. I assumed this was rockfall from either or both of (1) the big storm in July 2011, and (2) the windstorm in November 2011.

Water issues: no water above the cables, except possibly a trickle at the start of the summit snowfield. The summit snowfield is tiny.

There was also a lot of trail work going on (particularly between Outpost Camp and Mirror Lake, and also between Outpost Camp and Lone Pine Lake). I understand that they are going to close the main trail for several days before and after Labor Day to do some of the work.

I will be heading up the main trail later this week. Can anyone tell me if there is a need for microspikes on or above the switchbacks? Thanks.

All recent posts about any snow or ice have been negative = leave the microspikes home

Thanks!

I summited on Sunday, July 29. Switchbacks were completely dry, except for a very small patch of old snow hiding in the shadow, that was easily avoided.

Hi all, how is the trail with this heat wave? We plan to go early this thursday (12 midnight), but it looks like it's cooking up there. I also noticed chance of thundershowers which will shut us down real fast we dont' want to chance lighting showers. Any restrictions w/this heat wave for the whitney trail?

Is there any water flowing at the base of the switchbacks? Thanks,

z

There's plenty of water near switchback #23, especially in the afternoon.

from 8.4.12

from 8.13.12

i'm going up next week.

i usually fill up on the switchbacks on the way up.

i'm confused.

any help?

thank you in advance.

The earlier post was referring to snow as a hazard. There is no snow on the main trail. There is water available near switchback #23.

That was a good question. Be careful if you're going up early - sometimes the water source on the switchbacks is frozen in the morning and only becomes available in the afternoon. I found out the hard way a couple of years ago. No fun going back down 23 switchbacks to get water just to turn around and go back up again...

z

amen! hence the request for clarification.

I last checked in almost a month ago...I'll be heading up Friday morning, the 14th. Anybody been up in the last few days that can tell me the water situation on the switchbacks? Thanks!

z

zip

I came down the switchbacks at noon last Sunday (September 2). The flow of delicious water from the spring at the 23rd switchback was robust. I was told by some who ascended the switchbacks early that morning that this water source was frozen during their ascent.

Have a good hike.

Jim

Thanks Jim. Exactly what I needed to know.
z

Hello! My rookie friends and I are making our first ever ascent to the summit this weekend. We are camping at Portal Friday night, then hiking to Trail Camp to camp Saturday night, and then making the Summit on Sunday and descending back to Portal the same day. Any advice? What are current weather conditions? Thanks!