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

Anybody have any info on the conditions over Forester pass. Are the PCT hikers going through yet?

No specifics, but at least one thru hiker has made it to Vermillion

As of this past weekend, 4 thru hikers have made it to VVR.

Most of the through hikers are probably using the alternate pass, just East of Forester. Normally a nasty rubble pile, I've heard it makes a much more mellow trail when snow covered. The south side of Forester is damn scary when covered in snow, which it most likely will be for a month or so.
Eric

I'd say the south side of Forester is scary even when NOT covered in snow!

I posted a PCT thru hikers description of the high sierra trails and passes <a href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003143">here</a>. He describes Forester as being snow plastered and kinda scary. Though they chopped steps through to the pass about a week and a half ago.
Eric

Does anyone have some good photos of Forester Pass showing the southern approach and switchbacks in their photo archives?

Well although you can't see the switchbacks in <a href="http://community.webshots.com/photo/167774896/172730460EDZIXb">this picture</a>, I'll explain where they go. It starts into the rubbles field to the far right of the pass, then traverses into the cliffs to the right of the pass. The really difficult part comes near the base of the small snow field in my picture, where the trail crosses the chute. Many have said that this covered in snow is really scary, and a large cornice can hold on top of the pass as well. This pic was taken July 2nd last year, prob a month ahead of this years melt.
Eric