Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Water on Trail at Switchbacks????

I'm dayhiking on the 13th and was wondering if the water is crossing the trail about a mile up the switchbacks. Please describe flow as well. If anyone would let me know I would appreciate it.
Maureen

last time i was up there (in july) the water flow was limited. it was a hot day so i guess that didnt help. but jsut be prepared to bring either extra filters or bottles of water. As far as i know, most of the little streams are already dried up since its august. so be prepared.

It varies greatly but when I was there on the 4th of this month there was plenty to fill up at 10AM and a boat load at 3-4PM.

Thank you! I'll get my water on the way up, as I like to avoid the lake there at Trail Camp.

Maureen,

Look at this post by Bob R. from a couple of days ago. Be sure to go through his photos and read his captions. Looks to me like there is plenty of water at all the usual places.

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/39692/page/1#Post39692

Thank you ML, I'll check it out. I just like the water above the switchbacks the best because I don't have to filter it.

It is nowhere near a mile up the Switchbacks where this water is. My guess is it less than a 1/2 mile from the base.

Maureen, the stream starts at switchback 23, and depending on the volume, can flow from switchback 23 down to switchback 17. The stream is less than four-tenths of a mile from the start of the switchbacks. You can see my map HERE. Hopefully the water will be running when you get there. Have fun. Enjoy the map...and savor the water!

I was there yesterday. The water is about 1/2 mile up the switchbacks. At 6:00 AM there was no way to get any water there. You could "hear" it trickling under the rocks, but the cool night had frozen the supply. By 12:30 PM when we walked back down lots of water (nice warm sunny day) very easy to fill a bottle. Hope this helps.
Ron

Thank you to everyone who responded, I'll let you know how it turns out. I was a bit concerned as this has been a drier year than my previous summits (10). Wayne, your maps are awesome!
Maureen