Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trail conditions, May 24 - 25

My friend Dan and I were on the main trail this Memorial Day weekend. The pictures show some of the conditions.

I have never seen so many unprepared Whitney "climbers"! While a few adventuresome souls were trying the switchbacks (and reporting back that it was extremely dangerous), about 95% were tackling the snow chute below Trail Crest, with half of those sensible enough to turn around partway up. Very few had ice ax and crampons. Many were in running shoes instead of boots, and many of those didn't even have microspikes along. Many said this was their first time hiking in snow.

It's enough to drive a wbtravis5152 nuts.

Yikes that's a lot of unprepared people on that slope. Thanks for posting this Bob.

"Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge

I cremated Sam McGee."

Check out Bob R's choice of reading material for his recent trip



I won an award at 12 years old for memorizing that 13+- stanza poem by Robert W. Service.

Boy did that bring back memories!

Hi great to see you over the weekend.

Like one nice couple told me just yesterday "we will make it won't we" so with that much insight one would never consider not making it?

I noticed 17 people on the snow chute ,none on the dry rock to the right ? Would one be safer on the dry rock if you slid?

Many said some very icy sections on the backside so just getting to trailcrest will not be the end of the snow/ice.

Get the car keys so when you leave your group on the mountain you have a car to wait in .

"I left Sally on the mountain "She should be down here waiting ,That's not possible she wouldn't wait on the mountain for us! Oh I see she is coming down the trail now.And the final question last night we left the group and came down .We will wait an hour,we'll no it may be longer you didn't get the keys,you have no clue where the others are and no plan in place.
Please read the spring conditions by Kurt .Study the photos Bob posted and do not think these conditions will change in a few days.

Several snow blindness cases this week and many sunburns .The sun is reflecting off the snow and at the upper elevations the UV is intense.

Be safe think about it when someone says you need xyzzy ,do not think they come with a few years of experience .Think of them as starter tools that I'll need a few lessons and practice . At the end of the day it will be YOU looking up or down the chute making the call do I want to turn around or how am I now going to get down.

Thanks

That photo above speaks volumes...sorry to have missed seeing "the gang". I heard about one group of teens who "summitted via the slope in tennis shoes"...the guy I spoke with thought it was perfectly fine since "they went up the slope early in the morning". He was going to try to do the same the next day (Monday). It would be his first attempt so he was very excited and also going "alone".

Saturdays view from the Irvine/Candlelight saddle,


Interestingly enough on Candlelight I found this entry of Bob's from 1977.

As I read the entries I wondered where they all were today, little knowing Bob was probably about 2000ft below me. Seems like I missed everybody as well this weekend.

Phil

Very cool log. Graduated from High School in 77. First climbed Whitney in 78. Seems so long ago. Time moves too fast.

Went to Whitney Portal this afternoon in preparation for Sunday hike, and spoke to hikers coming off the trail. Large changes in weather the last few days. Hikers making it up to the top, and switchbacks now passable, although icy in parts. Ranger at Interagency suggested we carry microspikes rather than crampons, based on her latest information. Still very cold and windy at the top, according to hikers coming off trail. Still some hikers not prepared for the snow or cold at top, as bottom exceedingly warm.

Well, I believe at least one of them (Carl Heller) has passed away.

Hi Thanks for the update .We have talked with others using the switchbacks up and the chute on the way down .Just after we heard people using the switchbacks a young lady fell about 100' so as noted watch your step and stay focused .This next few weeks will be the worst until a deep track is walked in and more clear trail than covered.

Very good report ,asking the people coming down is priceless .They will give you first hand report and if they are first time hikers listen very close to what they had trouble with or what bothered them.Thanks Doug

It's helpful to ask the Interagency staff person you're talking to when the last time they were up there. I've heard some severely bad advice come over the counter in the past (either ill-informed or weeks-old) from staff who have never even driven up the Portal Road, let alone set foot on the trail.

All advice is suspect (even this). Know your limits and be prepared for at least 97% of all eventualities.

Jeff, I am curious as to which 3% of all eventualities one should not take into consideration? Just wondering.

Poodle attacks, hot lava, and alien abductions. (Though I would keep all three in the back of my mind.)

Funny. I was going to guess new Ice Age triggered by a cascading series of improbable events involving aliens in some way.

But if it were an alien poodle, that would only be 2%. What then?