Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trail to Mirror Lake, May 8

Al, Loren, and I parked at the Portal and hiked the main trail to Mirror Lake. Back down around 4 pm. Did not take snowshoes; did not need them.

Those interested in seeing the relative snow conditions compared to a week ago, click on the link in "Trail to Bighorn Park today," posted earlier.

A shot taken at the Portal is below; others are <a href=http://members12.clubphoto.com/robert634908/3241259>here</a>.

<img src="http://a5.cpimg.com/image/63/87/47778915-b076-0190012C-.jpg"width=480>

Bob R.

You know someone else is going to say something about your Yellowbill sighting. I guess the rumor that this extinct species has been recently seen in Louisiana (I think that's where it happened) hasn't reached all the outdoor enthusiast readers on this board.

Bob, thanks for your pictures, especially the ones of the Stemwinder route. In picture #28 the Stemwinder route looks narrow in places (wall on one side and drop off on the other). With that kind of exposure I was kind of hoping for at least 5 feet wide. Just how wide is it on that narrow section 300-400 feet above the base?

Kent, it varies between one and two feet wide. I have plenty of pictures taken on the climb, but they are all slides. I've done it four times I can remember; maybe once or twice more.

I have about 16,000 climbing trip slides from my pre-digital days. Maybe my wife will buy me a slide scanner for my birthday.

Wow, I'd love to see some of those slides. I'd help pitch in to get you a slide scanner ;-) What is Stemwinder rated, low 5th class if I remember correctly?

Believe it or not, the whole route is class 3 except for two short (15') roped pitches:

The first is at the start and is rated 5.4 (I agree with that). But if the belayer climbs up a few feet, he will find a fixed pin to clip into. From this higher belay stance, the leader can do the pitch without intermediate pro; so class 4.

The second is right after passing the red/orange gendarme that is visible in the picture. It's a scary-looking traverse that isn't protectable, but if you commit to the first move, a great foothold and handholds come into view. So this pitch is class 4. The next 100' or so is class 3 again, then it's class 2 the rest of the way.

It's a great climb. Once my 16 y/o son and I took full (40 lb) packs up, then descended into the North Fork to continue our weekend adventure. I'm pretty sure we used a rope on most of Stemwinder that day.

Sounds like a fun route. We might have to give it a try later in the summer. Kent, are you thinking of climbing it?

JasonB: I have had my eye on the stemwinder route for the past 3-4 months. It has been of great interest to me and I have been waiting for it to dry out. However, with a 1-2 foot very exposed shelf and a class 4 section over a scarry look traverse I kind of think it is beyond my ability emotionally......which is all very disappointing to say the least.

So what is my plan? I am in the area from time to time. Within a few months, I am going to go up and climb the bottom section, up a hundred feet or so. Then I will decide if it is practical to try to summit up that route.

Now that the route is out there, I am hoping someone will go climb it and post up close and personal photos. That would really help

Count April and I in, that's an evening/weekend I wouldn't want to miss! ;-)