Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mt. Whitney Cilmb 5-10 to 5-11

Several of us (6 to be exact) just got back from Whitney. If you are going up over the next couple of weekends I recommend cramp-on's and ice axes. We decided it would be easier to go straight up the chute and avoid the icy switchbacks. I think we made a wise choice in going up the chute and coming down the switchbacks. Coming down the switchbacks allowed most of the ice to melt.

Camping at Trail Camp is also an option. Though not all the sites are able to be occupied (due to snow), their were more then enough spots available.

Oh, if you find a bear canister with my glasses in it...let me know. I think I left a flashlight and my new titanium cup and spoon in it.. I think it fell off my pack during one of my many post-hole adventures on the way down...lol..

The pics we took are at this site:
http://kamkin.smugmug.com/gallery/4868955_LPcNf#294187578_RsRjt

Enjoy!
Kam

What a great trip report and pictures, looked like everyone had a good time. I can't wait for my own trip in July!!!

nice post...
i'll be heading up this weekend (5/16-5/19). how difficult was it to locate and hike the trail? i attempted san gorgonio peak roughly (3) weeks ago and once we hit halfway camp, the trail disappeared in the snow and there were no signs or ribbon markings anywhere to be found.

also, i reviewed your pics (great documentation btw)and you didn't photograph your descent down the switchbacks. can you tell me what the condition were like? and why did you leave your crampons and axes at trail crest?

one more thing...were there other hikers that you noticed? or did you pretty much hike in solitude with your group?

thanks again.. -ryan

Congrats on a great Whitney hike! Nice pix!

MC

thanks for the report. My friend and I are headed to Whitney in a couple of days. Question: any sign of bear? I'd prefer to go light and leave the bear vault in the car. Then again, it's kind of a bummer when your food gets rummaged through (and as we all know, it's not too good for the wildlife). Thanks for any info you can share. Btw, is Matt single?

mtnrvr:

The trail is pretty well marked. However, when its covered in snow look for the markings on the trees. They all look like an "i".

The Switchbacks were icy in the morning. On the way down, they were not bad. A steep snow crossing at the top and a couple more on the way down. Other than that, not a bad way down.

We had another group of 3 that summited before us. I think in total we only saw about 7 people. Very nice!

eastcoastAnnie:

We did not see any sign of Bears... I was told by some Rangers that there was a sighting the weekend prior to ours. But no sign. Oh.. and yes Matt is single..hmm...

I'm going up in a few days and was under the impression you aren't required to have a bear cannister until after Labor Day. Is that not the case?

The bear cannister was not "required" at the time I went up, just strongly suggested. I think you can get away without it.

Hi Once the permit system starts bear cans are required for overnight hikes . No one has turned a lost can in at the store yet, but check with ranger station 760 876 6200 Thanks Doug

Hey Kam, Thanks for the beta on the bear canisters, and the trail blazes. Much appreciated. We'll keep an eye out for your stuff.

Regards, eastcoastAnnie

P.S. Please pass my email address along to Matt otheremailmy@yahoo.com

> P.S. Please pass my email address along

Hey! This ain't a singles dating web site!

Kam, congratulations on your accomplishment and writing such an interesting trip report. You start out in your photos by saying "This was a hike on steroids...," and well it may have been!

I enjoyed your photos. One pic, however, needs a bit of editing. In photo #118 you caption the photo as "Sunset", but the camera is pointed east, over the Inyo Mountains (where the sun appears about two miles south of Keynot Peak). Unless the sun itself was on steroids that day, I think it would be better captioned as "Sunrise". You had me going for a bit, thinking you saw a sunset over the Inyos that the rest of us Whitney trekkers have managed to miss over the years.

Your TR and photos were a lot of fun to look over, including the sunset picture. Thanks!

Lol.. Hey, I will play cupid!

Wayne,

Thanks for reminding me about that. I realized I mis-labled it and have spaced fixing it. But good observation on your part! Not many have picked that up. It was a good time and I look forward to doing it again!

Kam

The permit system starts May 1st doesn't it? It says on the Inyo NF site and the pamphlet they mailed to me

"From May 25 to October 31, all food, trash, toiletries and scented items must be stored approved bear-resistant containers"

Since I will be going before May 25th won't I be ok without one?

Hi Sounds like you are right. Thanks doug

Hey!!! I see my Easy button survived the winter (unless someone else also took one). I was wondering if the rangers or someone was going to remove it. I took it up there last August.