Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board getting down

hey everyone,

I am trying to figure a way to use ropes to get down the chute on the MR. I am going with a couple of friends who want the added security. Setting up rope on the way up is no problem, I am just trying to find the best way down. I am trying to avoid the whole belaying down the chute and was wondering if a rappel is possible. I really don't want to leave any gear on the chute (slings and what not) to do the rappel if I don't have to. Are there any fixed anchors (slings or bolts or something) on the route or is this just something I will have to improvise..thanks.

If you stay on route I see no need to haul a big heavy rope up there. There are no bolts on the regular MR route except a few in the final staircase chute above the notch. I have never actually seen them but they are on the left side, east side, when going up. Supposedly they are there for winter ascents.

Realistically, there are only a few places your friends would feel they needed to be roped in. There is no place steep enough to rapel down, unless you are off in the cliffs. There are options also to climb here or there, looking for an easier way.

Take a look at the extensive list of pictures of the route. http://www.mt-whitney.info/viewtopic.php?t=126

If you want to take a short 50 foot piece of a not to heavy rope along, just in case, it is not a bad idea.

Take a look at Snow Nymph's photos from the link I refered to above. They are a good representation of what it is like up the North Fork and MR.

http://community.webshots.com/album/173208815vwdvsA