Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Storm clouds from the summit on August 22

I hit the summit of Mt. Whitney yesterday with a couple clients via the MR on a 1-day car to car ascent. It was a beautiful morning up there but you know it's time to leave the summit when you see clouds like these heading in your direction!

Cloud coming from the south towards Mt. Whitney


Cloud coming from the west towards Mt. Whitney

Kurt, approximately what time were those photos taken?

ep, they were taken at around 10:15-ish. Descending the MR we heard thunder and light snow started falling. When we got to Iceberg Lake and looked up the mountain had solid clouds above it. This is what it looked like.

Thanks, Kurt.

That was the time nearly to the minute that I decided (at the JMT/WT junction) that it would be prudent to skip the summit on my Muir Trail walk. I've been on the summit in the past when lightning struck and would prefer not to repeat that experience. Also, skipping the summit meant I got my beer and hamburger a little bit sooner. Cheers.

ep, I'd say you made a wise decision . That entire ridge line feels exposed to me with regards to lightning. From the top of Muir Peak it's a long way to get down to lower elevation. I was a bit surprised seeing all the folks on the summit who came up the Main Trail who didn't seem concerned by the ominous clouds headed our direction. They would have to walk on a direct collision course with one of those storm clouds to descend off the summit.

I noticed those people too and thought that they'd probably be fine and I'll bet they all were. I mean, what are the odds of dying from lightning on Whitney? How many times has it happened in the last 20 years?

Statistically speaking the chances aren't very high. Keeping yourself in the line of fire doens't put the odds in your favor though .

The latest rescue on Whitney wasn't related to lightning. It was a guy with a broken leg near the top of the MR a couple days ago.