Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board High Sierra Trail (conditions) ?????

Has anyone hiked the High Sierra Trail through to Whitney this season? I see that the whitney zone conditions will be fine for July 1-2. My main concern is the Kaweah Gap Area? First hand info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Good luck finding current conditions. I'm heading up to the Yosemite high country at the end of this week and expect to find pretty solid snow cover above 10,000 feet. We did the HST last summer and I can tell you one thing about Big Arroyo. The stream crossings can be deep and fast. This year's normal to slightly above average snow cover will mean higher than usual runoff. We noted that crossing Big Arrow further upstream from the typical ford looked quite a bit easier, but would involve some cross country travel. There were two crossings, the first one involved some tip-toeing across a couple of well placed logs, the other was a full-on deep wade. If you encounter deep water, its much better to wade with your hiking boots on, socks off, trekking poles or wading stick at the ready, and backpack waist belt unclipped. At that elevation, early morning means lower river flows, so late afternoon crossings can be the trickiest.

Also expect a wet crossing as you climb out of the Kern River valley and encounter Wallace Creek. The first crossing under the waterfall can run really high, and the JMT crossing can be wet as well.

Good Luck!

Nodivision -

When are you doing the HST? I am going to be going with a group starting from Crescent Meadow on July 2.

Mark

Tomorrow...june 24...we'll be done july 2nd...hmm...wish I could let you in on trail conditions...but you'll be gone before i get home...

enjoy your hike!

Bjammin....thanks for the info...
Current conditions have been a pain to find. The SEKI updates always seem to be the same, and not very current.
We're set for the wades and wetness...I got a 'word of mouth' update saying that the kaweah gap area snow has melted off fairly quickly this week, and that people are now making it through (presumably without winter gear).
thanks again...

My two cents--don't worry--Kaweah Gap won't be a problem--some snow the last half mile or so. Been up there a number of Junes in dry years. Ditto Big Arroyo. Can't speak to Wallace Creek, only been up old Tyndall Creek trail in June, no longer maintained. I'm envious--you'll be experiencing the fullness of spring in summer. Good luck.

I am a bit late to report for his trip but I can still let you know MCPol.

My father and I hit the trail on the 15th and got back on the 22th

The first issue came with the tunnel climbing the Kaweah Gap...we had been warned that this area was iced most of the time and crossing without an ice axe may be impossible...when we got there it in fact was...there is no way I would have wanted to get out on that snow without both an ice axe and crampons but our trip wasn't going to end at this spot so I began digging...I used my trekking poles to start digging a level path across it no more then 2 feet wide and this whole process took me about 2 hours using my bear canister lid, poles and throwing rocks onto the path for some traction...so we made it across ok but what the condition of this path is now with the melt and the rocks probably eating into the snow it may be worse off...my advice if your not bringing any gear with you is just use extreme caution in this crossing.

We then kept on but the climb was slowed by many snow fields on the trail which were not hard to cross yet they often made us lose the trail...worst case was nearing the top we lost the trail completely and started heading straight up but never did find it till we reached the peak then we saw the trail was about 500 feet below us to the right and there were very steep ice walls everywhere else but we did find a spot just to the left where the ice wall was short enough to attempt going down and we made it ok.

Then as soon as we crossed the gap where the plaque for mount George Stewart is we hit tons of snow fields that made us lose the trail once again...this whole valley was a non stop cross country trek where you would find the trail then lose it again immediately and when you would find the trail it would be a creek or dry with mud that was 5 inches deep.

It was about where you enter the forest heavy where we managed to stay with the trail for good even though having to walk over and around allot of snow.

Where the trail crosses Big Arroyo there diffidently was no way across and it was not fun at all going bare foot with the freezing water and the rocks hurting your feet but the crossing was not dangerous with the water level or strength.

After this area there was no more issue with snow till climbing Mount Whitney which these snow fields had so many people crossing them you had a clean path so they were not a problem.

For the whole trip there was 3 wet crossings yet a number of creeks were very difficult to cross or even had to go far off the trail to find any spot for crossing.

There were MANY downed trees on the trail.

The mosquitoes where out the whole length of the trail yet were not an issue enough to need Deet until getting closer to Whitney...Crabtree Meadow was by far the worst...I put on layers to stop them from biting me and I would have about 15 on my legs with another 10 in the air trying to get to me...this night I just retreated into my tent because the assault was to great.

If there are any myspace users, I posted a section of images for this trip on my myspace which is roguephotonic.

If anyone has any other questions about the trip i'd be glad to answer.

Thanks Rogue -

Maybe in the two weeks since you did the hike the tunnel area will be clear of ice and the other snow fields will be clear! Let's hope. I have an ice ax and some rope so we will have to see what we get!

Thanks again,
Mark

We finished the HST on Monday.

No problems, great weather, but diminished views due to smoke.

Crescent Meadows to Upper Hamilton Lake: no problems good conditions

Upper Hamilton Lake to Big Arroyo Junction: tunnel is free of snow and ice, small snowfields approaching Kaweah Gap (easy trail finding), snowfields descending into Big Arroyo (easy trail finding), Big Arroyo Crossing no problem with watershoes/boots/sure footedness, and good camping at Big Arroyo Junction near old patrol cabin.

Big Arroyo Junction to Moraine Lake: fill up on water before entering Chagoopa Plateau, no problems, great swimming and camping at Moraine Lake.

Moraine Lake to Kern Hot Springs: no problems, mosquito issues in swampy areas of KC, cold, fast water in Kern River (but refreshing), and great camping/ssoaking at KHS.

Kern Hot Springs to Crabtree Ranger Station: no problems to Junction Meadow...BUT Junction Meadow is not a meadow...it's a mosquito-infested wooded, hell-hole. Junction Meadow to Wallace Creek Crossing. Hot, dusty, windy, but nice views to west. Crossing are all OK, plenty of rock hopping opportunties to cross reasonable water flows. Wallace Creek Crossing Camp area was horrible. Mosquito infestation that could cause skeletonization in minutes. Passed on camping here, and hiked to Crabtree Ranger Station and camped next to the meadow. Some mosquito issues, but tolerable.

Crabtree Ranger Station to last tarn at ~12,000' below Mt Whitney (above Guitar Lake): No problems, nice views, great water, chilly night (36 degrees). Windy afternoon. A bit of smoke rolled in at night, but blew out by morning.

Last tarn to Whitney Portal: No problems. Minor sun-cupped, very small snowfields on way up to Whitnet Summit. Windy on the way down to Portal, but no problems at all.

One night in hiker's camp at Portal: Mosquito City (bring a mosquito net for your head if you want to enjoy time outside your tent) Great food and conversation at the Portal Store.