Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Shepard Pass

Hello;

Will be headed up to Shepard Pass in a week or so but just found out about the flash flood taking out parts of the trail.

Does anyone have any info or pics?
Thanks

The trail got pretty beat up, but there should be enough tracks now to follow the crossings. I was there 7/25 - 27. The main part you need to be concerned with is "bulldozer gulley", the gulley below Anvil Camp. If you go well above the normal crossing (by the trail) you will see some cairns where it's easier to cross.

I doubt there's water in that gulley now but there was a very good flow when we descended on the 27th. That is a full szed pine tree in the pic to give an idea how deep the gulley is.


photo courtesy of HS Topics website

The pass itself wasn't so bad all things considered.

I came out over Shepherd Tues 6 Aug. You will have two options when you reach the middle switchback below Anvil Camp on the way up. I would stay on the switchback trail to where the trail used to cross the gully at the top, then climb higher to find a path across. There are cairns at the middle switchback indicating a lower route across, but that route is very steep and loose. I descended via that route and had a very slow difficult time - it may be easier going up. Be careful - one step at a time - it's very loose and slippery.