Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trip Report - 4/17 & 4/18

I was on the main trail last Thur and Fri (04/17 & 18). You will need an ice axe and crampons to get to Trail Crest. The switch backs are still covered with a lot of snow - icy in spots. We took the snow slope up to the right of the switchbacks to reach trail crest then followed the switchbacks more or less back to Trail Camp on the descent. Above Trail Crest there are only small snow patches and we didn't need the ice axes or crampons there.

Mirror lake was opening up and was the last source of running water we found.

Note: the portal road is still closed to remove the large boulder.

Photos of my trip are available here:
http://mcfarren.info/adam/outdoor/highpoints/ca/ca.html

I should add that the trail was mostly dry from Whitney Portal until the Lone Pine Creek crossing. From there to Trail Crest we were almost entirely on snow except for some of the slabs near Lone Pine Lake and above Mirror Lake. Trail Camp did have dry tent spots.

Nice pics - looks like you had good weather.

Was that your windshield, and if so, was it vandalism?

Don't worry, the windshield damage didn't happen at the trailhead or on Whitney Portal road. It was a casualty from I-70 in western Colorado on the drive out.

Weather was perfect for us. We were planning on going to summit on Friday morning, but since we reached Trail Camp early (10:30a) and neither of us brought a book to read, we decided to go for it. No one had signed the summit register since Sunday (4/13) and we had the route entirely to ourselves. It clouded up a little the next day and seemed windier - so we counted ourselves quite lucky.

-adam

Adam,

Thanks for sharing the great pics and report.

Bill

Thanks for sharing. A lot of people are glad to see a recent trip report.

amc.... We drive from San Diego to Grand Junction 3 or 4 times/yr. Back in '85 or '86 almost hit an Eagle out on I-70 with the windshield of the old Wagoneer. Am curious, what did you hit?.....................steve

Wasn't anything as interesting as an eagle - just a rock tossed up by a truck in front of me.

GREAT Pictures. Any idea of the overnight low temps?

Thanks for you comments on the photos.

Inside the tent at Trail Camp it was close to 32 or so overnight (according to the thermometer on my watch). Probably in the mid-20's outside. I wish I'd tried taking a photo that night - the near full moon was just beautiful and lit up the Whitney crest.

-adam

Adam

Congrats to Helen and you! Wonderful photos. My favorite caption: "No scenery along the trail".

MC

Thanks MC,

I should mention that Whitney was special to me in that with the climb last week I've now been up the all the 48-contiguous state highpoints. Started back in 2000 in the midwest. Helen had joined me for Granite (MT) and Gannett (WY) previously and we met through a mutual friend I met on Kings Pk (UT).

-adam

adam

Congrats to you on the contiguous 48. Now all you have left is Mauna Kea and Denali. My brother started the high points (America's roof) some years back and took a break to complete the 7 summits. I believe he still plans to finish the high points. You were lucky to complete your quest before the gas prices got so high!

Best to you,
MC

Congrats on your summit. Nice pictures.
Cheers

Great job and great pics.My favorite caption is "The longest 1.9 miles...ever" I agree especialy the 1.9 mile return from summit.The return 1.9 takes the cake as the longest EVER!!!

Bump.

Thanks for sharing...enjoyed it!

excellent trip report and photos - nice to see a story coming out of the Whitney area.

question: did you see any signs yet of anyone who had glisaded down from Trail Crest. It looks like you stuck to the trail as much as possible for the descent.

bump - hoping somebody has some relevant current data

tomcat

I was doing a quick search on current conditions on the MMWT and the first site I found was this site! I quickly saw that you are one of the five contributors! Another Sierra site for me to surf...

Hope you get current data. Are you going up this weekend?