Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mountaineers' Route

I am going to ascend via the Mountaineers' Route in early August.

This is my first time. I live at sea level on the East Coast.

Any idea why my group selected this route? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks for any feedback!

Go to this web site:

http://www.mt-whitney.info/

and open Mt. Whitney Region Topics.

There will be a sticky topic with a lot of info about the Mountaineer's Route. This route is more difficult than the main trail. It requires cross-country route finding skills and a section of Class 3 rock climbing to reach the summit. If you and your group don't have experience with these conditions, you may want to reconsider and take the main trail instead. Good luck!

Richard,

Thanks for the response! I could not for the life of me find the "sticky" on the other web site.

Any observations as to how hard the Mountaineers Route is? How does it compare to the Whitney Trail?

Some pictures of the climbing seem pretty intense-- straight up from the looks of it.

Thanks!

Go to this address, posted by Beach after his MR experience

<a href="http://www.mt-whitney.info/viewtopic.php?t=126"> Mountaineers route information</a>

The full URL is:

http://www.mt-whitney.info/viewtopic.php?t=126

I don't know if you need to register to view topics or not. If so, it's similar to registering for this board.

Check the photos posted by Kashcraft. If you think you can match his kids in daring and endurance, then you should have no problems.

<A href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003190">Here</A>

The mountaineers route is for those seeking greater adventure, but isn't for everyone. There are climbing sections (like the Ebersbacher Ledges, the section just above Iceberg lake and of course the final chute). If you like the security of a trail it is not for you. I personally love the MR but it is rough coming down on my legs and I feel relieved when I finally get back to the trail

It does have the advantage of being far less crowded. The trail certainly isn't a wilderness experience. Since you approach the mountain straight on you really feel like you went there. The regular trail goes way out of the ways and comes up the back. That is hardly what I see looking at the Mt. Whitney poster hanging on my wall.

I have hiked with Kashcraft. I am sure he was there with his kids step by step, telling them to step here and hold on there. It wouldn't have been easy for them. He has a lot of experience in the area. That is a big help. I wouldn't underestimate the Mountaineers Route just because young people have been there.

Does anybody have informations about current condition of the MR? Snow? Ice? Gears required?

Thanks

We will be up in the MR on Monday/ Tuesday. After we get back we will post a report.

Tomcat_rc & Rick Kent's were up in the area last Saturday (the 18th) From them we learn there was some snow all the way down to Lower Boy Scout Lake, mostly on the north slopes of Thor peak. The slabs going up to Upper Boy Scout Lake are mostly dry. Above Upper Boy Scout Lake there is mostly solid snow all the way up to the top.

Rick's pictures of Iceberg Lake (taken from the summit) show full coverage of snow with little dry around the lake. The lake is obviously still frozen solid, but is showing a little dark blue around some of the edges.

There is a little dry out area up the MR just below the notch for a few hundred feet.

The Chute above the notch is still very full of snow.

Last weekend was quite cold so the snow was hard frozen (night time temperatures were getting down into the teens at Iceberg Lake)

This weekend should be warmer with softer snow. At least that is what we hope for with a high/ low projection of 90/60 in Lone Pine.
See their report, which has a link to Rick's report and pictures

<a href="http://www.mt-whitney.info/viewtopic.php?t=625" >Current report</a>

Anyway this weekend I will find out up close and personal.