As promised, the conditions from my first Mt Whitney summit, which was awesome. I went solo and backpacked it, just overnight. I'm convinced this is the best way as opposed to leaving at or shortly after midnight and not even seeing anything of the first six hours. Not sure how this is fun, and it makes for a brutal day. I did San Gorgonio this way so it's not a question of capability, but rather enjoyment. Overnight at Trail Camp is a fantastic experience and makes for a nicely paced ascent. No rushing and keeping an eye on the time. Of course, if you're one of these badasses who can run up the whole thing this doesn't apply to you, but for average dudes like this guy, that kind of hike is too hard core. Too much like work. I don't visit God's country to be punished.
I left the portal at 9:15 AM June 18 with my 40-ish lb Osprey Aether, and made Trail Camp by 3 with plenty of stops to enjoy the stunning scenery along the way, including a nap-ish at Trailside Meadow (a picture of which should be under the listing for "heaven" in the dictionary. Left camp for the summit at 7:15, spent a long time on top (not an option for day-hikers who always look like they're trying to catch a flight), got back to camp at 3, packed up, and made the portal store at about 7. Not too shabby I thought. Random thought: am I the only one who feels that the names of Outpost Camp and Trail Camp are clearly backwards?
Back to those conditions. Leave the crampons, spikes, or whatever other ice-preparedness apparatus' you have at home. Two sections up the switchbacks have some snow built up on the turns that require slight creativity to negotiate...no sweat. Cable section? Non-issue. You're walking on dry rock or wet sand. There were a couple patches of desperate ice that didn't get the memo that this past winter was a sad joke. So basically, you'll breeze up to Trail Crest, at least as far as the trail conditions have any say. After that there are definitely some snow patches to negotiate, but no ice. Several running-shoe-wearing speed demons notwithstanding, most took it slow and methodical through these. One section near one of the windows (which are amazing) requires a controlled shimmy on your butt. Looks freaky...isn't. So yeah, some snow on the backside, but nothing that will stop you.
Footwear... There were plenty of areas on the switchbacks that had 2-3 inch deep running water on them from the melting snow. If you can get through that with trail runners and still have dry socks, or don't mind sloshy socks for the rest of the day, be my guest. I was happy to have my waterproof boots on, between all that running water and snow patches. Ultimately, everybody seems set in their ways on this subject, but my two cents is that waterproof boots were the right choice.
The summit had a slight breeze and was warm. Well, warm for 14-five. The rest of the trail was a shorts and t-shirt affair.
Completing Mt Whitney was for me an amazing feeling. I can't count how many times on my way to Mammoth I've looked up at her and known I had to stand up there. Looking in the reverse direction, 10,700 feet down to Lone Pine and remembering all those times looking up made me well up with tears. Silly maybe, but that's how special it was to me. It wasn't easy, but I didn't want it to be. Mt Whitney is Everest for regular people.
Anyway, maybe you just wanted the conditions and not my life story but you got both just the same. Have fun on your hike. The conditions are great and I hope it's as special an experience for you as it was for me.
Happy trails,
Jordan
