Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 3 Beginners To Mt Whitney Oct 5-7

I am a first timer going up to Mt Whitney via the Main Whitney Trail along with 2 other 1st timers from Oct 5 thru 7. I have been told time and again that an October ascent would be difficult because of the weather, but I've been checking weather forecasts and it seems to be clearing up. Despite the weather last week and the wind (other posts), will the current warm up help our anxiety-ridden ascent? I have been training everyday for a couple of months now and I would be saddened if I'm not able to summit...
Please Advise!! I am freaking out!!!
Ana

"I will summit, only if the mountain lets me summit..."

There is absolutely no way you can tell what the weather will be like for Oct 5-7 this far in advance.

You will have a better idea of what it might be like a day or two in advance, maybe three days tops, depending on what is or is not coming in from the Pacific during that 2-3 day period.

If our resident message board meteorologist, dmatt, is still posting his near-daily weather reports on this board in the 2-3 days leading up to your hike, then I would pay attention to them, and if any questions, post them as a reply to his posts.

Also, even the weather is perfect, if the first significant snow has already fallen on the trail by the time you hike, then your hike will no longer be a summer hike but will become a winter hike, with altogether different requirements.

CaT

If I were you, I would not put all my eggs in one basket. You still have time to get a walk-in permit (from a cancellation) before your hike date and day hike up to Trail Camp. Although that will not be the summit, the experience you gain on the lower part of the trail will make it that much easier when you attempt the upper part of the trail.

Don't freak out trying to "keep up with Jones family," even if you live in a fast-paced community. Reduce your risk by checking out the area ahead of time. The mountain will still be there next year.

Kinda late in the season to be going up there for the first time. Bring warm clothes and be ready for rain / snow and high winds, with the associated chill factor..... Or it could be beautiful weather, hard to tell this time of the year...

unless there is a drastic change in the weather soon - I would say "go for it" - bring clothing for cold / windy weather - but it sounds like you have trained too hard not to give it a try

I Have been up to Lone Pine Lake A couple of times. The first time, I went up just with a camelback and the second time I packed my backpack with everything I needed (25 lbs) and felt really good.
I know that the mountain will be there next year and I am very grateful for having the opportunity to even attempt. My mindset right now is that I will try my hardest to summit, but I'm not going to push myself so far as to endanger my life or anyone elses. If I could work this hard to get as far as I can, if I don't summit, I can work just as hard )or even harder) to summit next time...waaaay earlier in the season. I wasn't the one who got the permit, but now at least now I know when the best time to go so i don;t freak myself out.
Thanks for all the posts..I LOVE this forum!!!!

Ana

Ana,
All that you've read thus far is very helpful.

To add my 2 cents: If you haven't investigated dealing with high-altitude hikes and/or camping, go ahead and look for that subject on this message board. I've seen a lot of good info on that subject here.

Start early, take your time, and have fun!

Thank you all!!! I leave in 1 week!! Woo-Hoo!!!

ahhhh - have a great time - don't forget the camera - take lots of pictures.

to anyone else on Whitney that Saturday - I am summiting Telescope(from Shorty's) - so if you find yourself on summit around 1-2pm look for a flash in the east

Don't freak out.
Watch the Weather Channel every day. If there is a cold front headed for central California on your trip days you can count on bad weather. Otherwise follow the advice of the other posters, it is cold this time of year, and there may be ice on the trail from last week's snowfall. Though I did read in this forum that the snow was only two inches deep.
If you are prepared and exercise good judgment there is no reason to freak out...go for it!!!

Awesome TC..I'll be coming out this winter to redo that hike (this time solo). Have a great (long!) hike..

Chris

hop a plane and join the hike in October

The first thing I did when I read your dates was to run to my schedule and look...unfortunately it falls in a period when I'm solidly on duty.. Bummer for me. You going to go up and down or are you exiting at Wildrose?

(Sorry for the hijack Ana..)

Chris

Ana, please carefully read the information here http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/33139 before your hike, posted last year by Kurt Wedberg. If it's your first time, you might not be aware of how conditions on the switchbacks and above may change during a day, so prepare, be careful, and have a good time.

And please post a trip report and pics when you return!

Many of my best times on the MMWT have come when I did not go to the summit...usually because of rotten weather or a ton of snow on the trail in the winter.

Just come prepared to go as far as your skills will allow you to return safely.

You will have a good time, especially if you have not been here previously.

You seem to be getting fairly consistent responses, so let me chime in:

1) Understand that the weather on Whitney can change by the hour. You should prepare for the worst conditions and then if you're pleasantly surprised no harm done. Yes the day before weather will give you 70% of reality, but 30% is a lot.
2) whole heartedly consider bringing crampons and ice-axes, and learn how to use them. Read the chapter on snow/ice traversing in Freedom in the Hills or otherwise understand how to use them. Practice at home and at Trail Camp in the lower part of the hill before you go up the switchbacks.
3) Be careful, IMHO of the area right below Trail Camp, the switchbacks (especially the cable area), and right past the peak of Trail Crest headed towards the JMT and summit. IMHO those are the worst 3 areas.
4) Follow the weather daily, and ask others who exit the trail if you can before you head up.
5) Take as much crap (crampons, ice axes, snowshoes, helicopter ) with you to Whitney Portal, and leave behind what you decide you don't need - but it's best to take more than you think you need.
6) Extra Hydration - walking in snow is extra tiring. If you get thirsty it is too late, you are already dehydrated. Drink often.
7) Plan for cold weather, but every bit as much, high winds. The winds can cut through gloves and hats mostly and leave you cold to the bone.
8) Attempt the summit, fine. But make decisions about the next leg on the current leg. Get to Outpost Camp. Get to Trail Camp. Get to Trail Crest. Get to the Summit. Give yourself a green flag on each leg, and go. Give yourself a checkered flag, and call it a day.
9) Get off the damn summit early. Storms do tend to come in in the early afternoon or later. These being the times they don't come in earlier.
10) Use your common sense. How is everybody feeling? Does everybody have gear and know how to use it? Is it needed? Is everyone comfortable with what they need to do? What's the sky look like? What time is it? What are other descenders saying?
11) Go over in your mind the scenario where you turn around at Trail Crest, or other locations. Feel good about it. Give it real consideration.
12) REMEMBER, you have to go back down what you went up, and it may look and actually be (due to melting/freezing/weather) much different by the time you get to it on the way down. Think about this as you proceed through/by each area you consider difficult. Last time I summitted was in June, and the cable area was no problem or even consideration going up, but on the way down we scooted down on our butts on the water-covered slippery ice.
13) Read as many comments on this forum as possible.

I've probably forgotten 50 things.

Have a good time, and good luck.

Cheers,
Jeff Long

I am heading up this Saturday and Sunday. I will be sure to post pics and give a detailed report.

Hi, Ana,

I just made my first attempt of Whitney Monday through Wednesday this week. I joined a couple of friends who had different levels of backcountry experience, from nil to moderate. Because of that, we made it no further than Outpost Camp where we ended up staying for two nights. Instead, we decided to do a day hike to Trail Camp, but only made it as far as Consultation Lake. While it was perfect weather - no wind, cloudless skies - the heat of the day, and then freezing temps at night, made for icy conditions on the trail above Outpost. I'm a fairly experienced hiker, and I was concerned about some areas of the trail near Consultation that were icy and exposed. If I had on a full backpack, I know I would have wanted crampons.

That being said, I met several people who had summited, including two guys who were just wearing trailrunners (I think they had run up and I saw them as they were running back down). Others said they were using mountaineering gear to summit.

While I would have liked to have made the summit (I wasn't interested in leaving my friends behind at Outpost), I still had a great time. I figure that I at least know what I'm in for on the next attempt. Be sure to wear your warm weather gear...it's cold up there and I woke up each morning with ice on the inside of my tent!

Hey Ana,
I am heading out with a group of 10 people Oct 5-7. We only have a day permit for oct 6th. I am the only one with some fourteeners under my belt. and even I am freaking out because I have never been up Mt Whitney. After reading posts here I am feeling a little better and reading that people made it up safely without crampon and ice axes. I'll definitely bring mine, but no one else in my group got that kind of gear.
If the weather holds up I think we have a good shot at summiting. Leave early! I'll try to get my group on trail before 2am.
Malte

I also feel better by reading a lot of posts in this forum. I will go as far as I can safely!! If anyone is on the trail on Oct 5-7 and see a 4ft 10 asian girl..pls don't hesitate to say "what's up?..."
I'm off to the high school to do stair work..see ya!!!