Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Summit in February 2009 - Advice Please!

I am thinking about going for it in February and looking for anyone's advice for a hike at that time of year. November was my latest hike (crampons needed but not axe). This is a solo attempt but I'd like to join up with anyone at trail camp and journey together.

Things I'd like to know:

1. Likelihood to find others on the main trail?
2. Easy to follow tracks to get to Trail Camp?
3. Snow shoes needed?
4. Bivy sack (OR Alpine) or 2-person tent (REI Halfdome)
5. Portal Store open?
6. Bear Can really necessary?
7. 1-night or 2-nights
8. Rope needed to get from Trail Camp onwards?
9. How to cross the logs over the stream?
10. Possible to get to the Portal by car (Suburban 4WD with chains on the rear)

I have only peaked as a day hike but obviously I'll need to spend the night...so I was thinking about going up to TC on day 1; peak and return on day 2. Depending on time and conditions either return to portal on day 2 or 3.


I am looking forward to frosty clean air, solitude on the way up with some company for the tough stuff - for safety.

Please offer your comments!

Everything depends upon conditions, which can vary greatly. This is probably the toughest month to climb, as there is a maximum of snow which is non-consolidated, which may translate into waist deep hiking (with snowshoes), or very easy movement, depending.



Have a fun trip!

To answer these questions...

1. Company...the odd are you will see someone

2. Tracks to TC...most likely but the trail will not be the best route in some places.

3. Snowshoes...Yes, if there is powder 30/36" snowshoes

4. Tents...depends on conditions but I've used a 3-Season tent in these conditions. I'm not sure you would want to use the Half Dome at TC with all its mesh...there is usually a lot of wind there.

5. WPS...long closed

6. BRC...Not required and not needed in the winter.

7. Duration...3 to 4 days...depending on conditions.

8. Rope...We didn't use on in May but that was in icy conditions

9. Log crossing...fairly easy with snowshoes and a pack...just time your time

10. WP w/ an automotive vehicle...don't count on it. The majority of our trips we have made it to Meysan Lake Trailhead parking area. I've made to WP by car in February...once.

Both your trip to TC in a day and return for the summit to WP are, in my opinion, unreasonable. Most likely you are going start your trip at least a mile back and 700' below the trailhead...and it could be much more. It takes a bunch more energy to climb the chute than walking up the 97 Switchbacks. My guess is the last thing you will want to do upon returning from the summit is to pack up and head east...on trip which could be as much as 10-miles.

Check the weather link for White Mt. Summit and Barcroft Lab. since they are same elevation as Whitney and Trail Camp and look at monthly summaries for what conditions you may encounter on the mountain. Probably be lucky to get within miles of Portal by road.

http://tenaya.ucsd.edu/tioga/

That link gets you a live view of what things look like at 10K feet, but may be offline after storms.

Rugged area to do solo unless you are a paragon of strength and endurance, better if load of tent, stove, etc. can be divied up with a companion. Should find a strong companion to go with you. Be careful...could be great fun if all goes well.

The NWS service's new set up is fantastic for a focused weather report. Move the block to near where you want to go, zoom in, then move the block exactly where you want to go.

White Mountain is good but I find CA Water Resources Board's more useful. I like a forecast couple with local real time sensor and historical data.

Great advice, thank you.
I may just move my hike to January in hopes of less snow.

Wow, I shiver (in so many ways) of just thinking about using a REI halfdome in the Sierras during February.

My tents: Hubba, Halfdome, Trango2

My experiences:

East Coast (Appalachian Style) - The Hubba and Half dome are great on the east coast during the worst of winter weather (and trust, I’ve thru-hiked the Whites and summited Washington in the heaviest snow fall month ever recorded) because the humidity is so high and elevation so low that even in a dry winter spell the snow crystals are huge.

West Coast (Sierra Style) - At the right temp and humidity the dry arid conditions mixed with high altitude create a micro fine crystal that will circulate in the air like the fine dust in your home. This micro fine crystal travels through the Half Dome mesh like the air you breathe does (w/o resistance.) Twice, I packed these mesh tents in winter Sierra hikes with horrific results. After a long, stressful, day of breaking trail with snowshoes or crampons I would set up camp. But this would only be the beginning of the work load my day would bare. At some point before I went to sleep I would realize ice crystals floating in the air, and then slowly settling on my inner tent like snow pack. I would get out side the tent and try to build a snow pack on the fly so no more crystals would get in, only to later realize that my own body heat and humidity created these crystals (the same physics of hoar frost.)


Lesson learned: use 4-season tent or bivy, because both form a closed air pocket which allows you to change the dynamics of the humidity you release. The dynamics of a bivy is wicking out the humidity by heat pressure; the dynamics of the 4S-tent is thermal layers which allows your humidity to vaporize. The vapor method is slightly better because you re-breathe the vapor and don’t dehydrate as quick; the down side is you have to pack a 12lb. 4S-tent as apposed to a 1.5lb bivy.

What to do: I’ve seen so many people succeed where I have failed and vice-versa that I refuse to tell a hiker that they are wrong, not doing it right, or will not make it. If you use the Half Dome, in winter, in the high Sierras, and are successful then this post is a waste of time, keep on doing what your doing. If you are not sure about the Half Dome, then I can only say the difference in a wise man and a fool is; A wise man learns from others mistakes, a fool learns from his own.



Hellkat

I don't think moving it to January will help you any. You could go this weekend and still not make it to the portal.

I just posted a new thread about conditions, and a friend's experience, under: Conditions in Eastern Sierra over Xmas

The earlier you go, the more likely you will have such conditions.

I agree. This January isn't likely to be any better. Usually your odds in Jan would be better but I think there's probably already enough new snow up there to present a challenge. It all comes down to whether enough time has passed for the snow to consolidate. If you're wallowing around in snow up to your armpits your chances of getting to Trail Crest aren't good. If however a few weeks have gone by since the last storm and the snow supports your weight then your chances are vastly improved. February frequently receives more storms and snowfall than any other month. Another big factor to improving your odds is to go up after a big group has packed down a trail.

-Rick

Rick's right. Sometimes there are long lull between early winter and late winter-early spring storms. In February 2006, the snow bridges were melting out in the North Fork but a week later was the continuation of the heaviest storms on record.

Rather than set a plan, keep an eye on the weather and go when conditions seem right to you. Believe me, you will have a heck of good time if you don't even come close to the summit.

We have cut trail to Trail Camp from Outpost forward with light packs. I really would not want to do it with 50# on my back.

Wow.
I was planning my trip around my ability to cut out of the office for an extended weekend - too many hours on the books and it is hard to get my boss to give me the time off.

It seems, thanks to your excellent advice that I should plan the trip around the current weather and others blazing a path to follow.

My latest was in Nov, 2007 and crampons were only needed from the switchbacks onward.

I like the solitude of solo hikes but seek comfort in knowing that others are close by and able to call in a helo in case of emergency - instead of freezing to death (although I know that any trek in the wilderness in winter, alone or not, could very well yield the same).

I might hold out for great weather and give it my all or just wait until March/April just before open season.

Thanks for your advice and suggestions. I do greatly appreciate and respect it.

-- Joe

Winter is a great time in the Mt. Whitney area but having people around is iffy. We literally have seen no one or a bunch of tents and not a soul. Usually, there are a handful or two of folks around.

March or April may be no different than February. May or early June you will see a lot of consolidation and you can head up the trail without snowshoes and some of the other winter extras.

The summit is something I do not really think about during the winter on the MMWT. It's really a process thing, and usually a heck of a lot of fun. Go, you will have a lot of fun.

Dear Hellkat:

What say you to setting up my footprint & rainfly of the halfdome OVER my OR alpine bivy? I am thinking that the tent cover will provide a wind barrier and a place to store gear and when open, a place to cook/eat inthe wind.

I'll be hitting the trail next weekend!

Also, does anyone know of equipment rental shops in or around Lone Pine, in case I realize I forgot my axe, crampons, brain or something else.

Anyone know about swag bags in the winter? No experience with these since I usually day hike it so someone's experience would be great to hear - just not at meal time!

Call me a wuss but I don't think I would use a bivy or fly/footprint in winter.
We were up there last April/early May and it was blowing a gale each night and on the 3rd night it snowed. We had a 4 season tent with all the tiedowns out and the tent was shaking like crazy when the gusts hit. It was nice to have the shelter and been able to cook in the vestibule.

This store rents out most gear,
http://www.sierraelevation.com/

Wag bags are easy to use - just remember to hang it on the outside of your pack (afterwards!)

I made it up to lower Boyscout yesterday. I'll post some photos tomorrow. So beautiful and quiet!

Some photos and POV "movies" from this past weekend:

Rattlesnake/NF/El Pee Pee photos.

Upper Boy Scout Lake Day-climb photos.

Richard's POV - Whitney Portal Road & Part Way Up To LBSL photos and movie.

Richard's POV - UBSL Day-climb photos.

The two POV albums have a QuickTime movies of the photo sequences as the last item in the album.

Hi Richard,
Your new "POV" experiment is very interesting.

Did you take each frame with certain time span or certain distance or certain significant land mark?

Most of pictures we take are images of distant scenery from certain spot on the trail and no meaningful information for us for navigational purpose. Many guidebooks describe the trail but
almost no value for navigation. The POV will give more meaningful information of the trail to hikers than the description done by conventional guidebooks.

I am looking forward to seeing next one.

Shin

Since I haven't had time to research a better method, the setup right now is a Nikon S560 hanging like a necklace taking a photo per minute. For the albums, I'm deleting most of the out of focus photos. For the QuickTime "movies," it's all of the photos taken by the camera. I've also decided I'd create the "movies" at one photo per second. Therefore, one minute equals one hour of hiking/climbing.

I bought the S560 because it's the cheapest point-and-shoot Nikon makes with optical image stabilzation. I'm a little disappointed in how poorly the IS works with the camera hanging from my neck, so I do need to figure out a better way.

BTW1: Credit for the idea goes to Dewitt Jones, a pro photographer/columnist who wrote an article on "Drive By" photography a few years ago. Basicly, the idea is to just aim the camera without looking at what you're shooting.

BTW2: Did you notice that I'm now in to McSkillet Burritos instead of McGriddles?

Hey Richard,

I am amazed at how ridiculously large my pack was. Thank you for the photo of my hind.

I really like your chronicle of the hike, it is the same path I took and so I'd really like to download the photos/video as part of my hike photos.