Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Switchbacks/shute as of last weekend 6/25-6

Can anyone post here if folks are attempting the switchbacks as of this last weekend,in years past there was a short shute followed by switchbacks.Based on last weekends report it looked like soon the trail would be attemted.Our group has a permit for july 3rd. RR

I want to know also, and if crampons would be required. I'm going to try on wednesday.

Our group made the summit on Thursday 6/23. Quite a bit of snow up the chute, but we made it without crampons, ice picks, or snow shoes. We climbed the chute between 10 and 11 am. It was soft enough to kick the toes and edges of our boots into the slope. We glissaded down the chute around 3:30pm.

jim, did you glissade without ice axes?

Yes, we had hiking poles which were sufficient to control the speed of the glissade. The snow was also soft at that time of the day.

It's interesting to see how hiking poles have begun to replace the use of ice axes in some cases. I have a book that even goes into self-arrest with hiking poles.

In my opinion, if you feel there is any chance of needing to self-arrest not having an ice axe is insane. In many circumstances it is hard enough to self-arrest with an axe. Your toast if all you have is a thin walled tube.

Yeah - it really isn't recommended to glissade long, steep distances with only hiking poles. If Jim had come down later in the day when the snow had turned into ice, he may have run into problems. Use your best judgement.

Those considering glissading without ice axes or the skills to use them should consider that two people lost their lives on Whitney last year in separate incidents because they chose to glissade when they should have been walking.

4 of us went up Friday through Sunday. I didn't see anyone trying the switchbacks...the rail section is still partially under snow. We all went up the snow chute with ice ax and crampons (2 were complete novices, but did fine). We hit the chute at about 7:15 AM, still good ice for crampons. I saw some people with only instep crampons who seemed to do fine, too. Personally, I preferred the full crampons and was glad we took them. We all glissaded down with ice axes. It was very easy to pick up speed on the way down at about 2:30 PM. It was my wife's first time glissading... she was very nervous, but I led her down slowly. By the bottom she was asking to glissade more. I've tried to provide the link to my photos from our trip (my first time trying this, just got the digital camera). So hopefully you can view our pics. Enjoy the hike, it's beatiful right now.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=84280285208&page=1&sort_order=0

Hi everyone,

This is my first post to this message board after using it a lot over the past few months for finding out information about Mount Whitney. I travelled from the UK and climbed Whitney on 22/23 June, camping at trail camp.

I only made it up to about 13,000ft on the snow chute between trail camp and trail crest, even though I felt fit and acclimatised.

I had 6-point instep crampons, an ice-axe and was climbing solo. I felt that the snow surface of the chute (lots of deep snow-cups) and the steepness made things just too difficult for me. I was climbing at about 6am and the snow was very firm. I was concerned about an ankle injury with all the deep holes in the snow. If I'd had 12-point crampons and was travelling in a group that would have been a whole different ball-game.

There's absolutely no way I would have gone up that chute without an ice-axe. A fall without one would have been a real bad situation.

I also walked up from trail camp to the cable section of the switchbacks - it was completely filled with hard snow and ice at an impossible angle. Even if the rest of the switchbacks melt soon, that section will be impassable for many weeks to come, I think.

What I realise I could have done now, after reading other posts, is to have walked across to the switchbacks to a point above the cable section from halfway up the snow chute. Oh well, another time maybe!

Even though I didn't make the summit I had a great hike. I'll post a link to my photos here soon too.

Eddie

How deep is the snow on the covered switchbacks?.
I plan to either turn around or if safe make the switchbacks.I have no great need for risk having summited perhaps 6 times already.Permit is for July 3rd.How fast is the snow melting? RR

I made it up the switchbacks on Sunday with my Dad. No cramons or ice axes. Two other went up before us and two more people passed us on the way. Trip report to follow.

it is great to hear the switch backs are open now, i d like to hear the full report. thanx

I am heading out of Creasant Meadow in Sequoia on july 2. Will be heading down from trail crest on the 8th. I do not think anyone in our group will have any crampons or and ice axe. By than will there be much of a problem getting down the switchbacks.

Judging by the number of overnight and day hike permits the Fourth of July weekend should be busy. Many of us are waiting for reports prior to this weekend that will increase or reduce our collective levels anxiety about the switchbacks. Any continuing information is appreciated and thanks to all who take the time for writing the reports.

Josh, how early in the morning and late in the day were you on the switchbacks?
Much ice?
Cable status?
Thanks, you have made my day!

I wouldn't call the switchbacks "clear". "Passable" is better term.

Lucas: We went up in the morning, down in the afternoon. There is ice on trail in the morning, but you just have to be careful when crossing. The cables are packed with snow, but there is a path through. There is also a large snow field in the middle section, but only needs to be crossed once, then you can go around by short-cutting the switchbacks on the left hand side. There is one scary section of snow on the last part of the switchbacks, but there is a well worn path across it. You also have to climb a very short chute from trail camp to get to the first section of switchbacks. I recommend trekking poles, but a couple went up with nothing.

i don't think i'd glissade without an axe either - i never seen anyone attempt it without one.

Here is a link to your other post on <A href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003241">June 26</A>.