Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Gear Sanity Check

I'm scheduled to day hike Mt Whitney on June 7th and just want to make sure that I'm not ill-prepared as far as my gear goes. I keep asking around the neighborhood outdoor shops and get conflicting opinions. I'm going up there with crampons, ice axe, and trekking poles but am not sure about the clothing. I have a pair of light hiking pants and shirt, two extra pairs of socks, a capilene undershirt, and a light precip jacket w/hood. Is this going to be enough or am I looking to freeze my bones if I make it close to Trail Camp? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Also, any recommendations on crampons? I hear that I need solid leather boots but I have some light hiking Vasques. Will these suffice and are they compatible with crampons?

Snow-Newbie sends.

Gy U:

First, welcome to the board. If you have the time to dig and search long enough (remember to put quotation marks around your search words, it helps weed things out tremendously), you will find most of the answers to your questions.

OK, lemmee see if I can break this down a bit:

1) Weather and temperatures: try using the weather links on the left hand margin here. The NOAA site is set up for approximately Trail Camp at just over 12K, and gives a pretty good idea of temps up there. For every 1000 vertical feet, lose 5 degrees. It will also give you a forecast of conditions, so you can work out your own layering system (see more on that below). I also like a site called Intellicast.

2) Glad to hear you are taking the axe, as well as the crampons. You have a few more days before your hike: if you can find a snowfield (although you'd have to get pretty high for that at this point), you might play around with both, perhaps even a self-arrest or two. But you did not talk about your experience w/ these, nor ask about their use, so I won't go on about that. Just remember to only ascend as far as you think you can safely descend.

3) As for layering systems, that's up to you. For the items you listed, I might add a fleece top, maybe a down jacket, but I get cold/chilled really easily. In these sorts of conditions, I would also consider taking a long-sleeve, mid-weight wool top that I would only put on at the top (DRY CLOTHING!) and wear down. If you are in LP right now, then I would head up to Horseshoe Meadows and, again, play with what works for you. The less sweating, the better, in these conditions, so you may end up hiking in a lot less than you would think, then layer up when you stop.

4) I've worn my crampons on plastics, heavy mountaineering boots, and light hikers, because the straps I have allow for just that. However, the lighter the boot, the lower the stiffness, and the increase in stress on the crampon. This increases the possibility of the shaft of the crampon breaking if you lean on it hard enough. I've also found that prolonged time in crampons in the light hikers is not very comfortable on my feet.

5) The weather has been extremely variable right now, and obviously snow is still an issue up high. Even White Mountain has a deep, fresh coat above about 13K or so. So just be careful, use good judgement, TAKE THE REQUISITE GEAR, and come back down to The Store safe for a Burger.

Hope this helps,
Laura

What Ms Moose said and...

This time of year you have to take crampons and ice axe to the trailhead, along with extra clothing, so you have options.

If you are day hiking, the day will get progressively warmer, usually you will gain about 15* F in the first 2 hours after sunrise. Some of that will be negated because you are climbing.

My base clothing for 3 seasons are...DriClime Windshirt, EO Air Strip Strip, MH Convertibles and Smartwool socks. In my pack, PreCips, 3-Season down jacket, MH Dome Perignon, REI All Season Gloves and an extra pair of socks. Going to the trailhead will be Microgrid fleece top, TNF Apex Bionic Gloves and Patagonia R2 vest, the last 3 items are so I have options, if it colder than I think it going to be.

As Ms Moose said, and it needs repeating, do not go higher than you can safely descend.

Essentially what Moose said.

With weather looking the way it does this weekend, it's going to be winter-like conditions up there. I'll be in the area (Langley) this weekend, and plan on bringing the following pieces of clothing:

Long-sleeve base layer (Patagonia Cap 3 zip-up)
Light fleece w/built in balaclava (Patagonia R1)
Soft Shell Jacket (Patagonia Ascensionist)
Hard Shell Jacket (Patagonia Stretch Latitude)
Belay/Synth. Down Parka (Patagonia DAS Parka)

Base layer pant (Patagonia R1 pant)
Hard Shell Waterproof/Breathable pant (Patagonia Stretch Element Bib)

I may bring my R3 fleece jacket depending on how cold it is.

I'll be wearing leather mountaineering boots, you can pick up a good pair right now (not on sale) at your local REI or climbing store starting at about $240+

Crampons/Ice Axe are a must at this time of year, especially after all of this snow finding its way to the Sierra.

Good gloves are a must, especially with snow in the forecast. One pair of hard shell (GoreTEX or otherwise waterproof gloves) and one pair of dexterous (soft shell or liner) gloves should give you adequate warmth and protection, plus the dexterity that is crucial at camp!

Having all of the great gear that there certainly is out there, from the numerous quality brands to be found is excellent, but being proficient in the use of an ice axe and crampons, as well as knowledge of how to properly layer and knowing to bring the right gear systems, are all life saving pieces. Be safe up there and have a blast! Best of luck.

You don't need to spend $1200 on clothing. I would wear light hiking pants (zip off type are good), long sleeve hiking shirt and a hat. I would carry a fleece jacket, rain jacket and pants, beanie, fleece gloves, long underwear, 1 pair of extra socks, and maybe a balaclava.

Being that you are day hiking, you will be moving almost the entire hike. You will likely only need the extra layers when you stop for a break or when you are on the summit.

Socks - lot of people suffer on the mountain due to sore feet and blisters.
My recommendation, and this may be somewhat controversial, is to look at the doble layer socks from "Wright socks". The issue for most people is that the feet rub on the sock while the sock is stationary in the boot or shoe causing grazing or blisters.
The idea of double layer socks is that the two layers rub together and not the foot on a layer.
I have used these socks since before they were available in the USA and used them for climbing, marathon running, skiing etc and never had a foot issue.
They are available at REI.

I know others prefer thicker wool socks, this is just my opinion and I am not paib by Wright Socks.

Good post on socks.

I'm big on quality footwear married with quality socks because you are asking a lot of your feet. The only issue I have with you is thickness. I use various thickness of socks to make the footwear fit me. I own 3-thickness of Smartwool socks, which I use in conjunction with Ultimax liners during the 3-seasons and Smartwool liners in the winter.

Newbie question, but what is the purpose behind bringing multiple pairs of socks? I see it recommended in multiple places here on the board and elsewhere on the internet. Thanks!

-Joe

Joe:

Socks get wet, either from water coming into the shoe or from sweat. The wetter the sock, the higher the coefficient of friction, and the increased possibility of skin breakdown from rubbing. Moisture also makes the skin softer and more pliable, hastening the breakdown (ie: blisters or hot spots). Taking a fresh pair of socks will help avoid this a bit.

-L

Ah, sweet, thanks Laura (and for such a scientific explanation, hehe)! My feet sweat just walking across campus for work, maybe I should bring my whole sock drawer

If you are a day hiker, you are going 22-miles. Your socks will be soaked my the time you summit. I make sense to change into a nice soft comfortable pair of Smartwools.

In the summer, on most long day hikes I will take my boots and socks off at our destination/halfway to let them dry a bit. It makes a difference.

And what Laura said.

I addition to extra socks, I will soak my feet at Trailside Meadow on the way down. This will reduce foot swelling by a width or two, making the rest of the trip more pleasant.

I am a golfer and I always carry an extra pair of socks in case I get a "hole-in-one".
I am with wbtravis on the underliner and smart wool socks. That is a winning combo. You can't ever neglect the feet when hiking.

bah-dah-dah-dum

Well, I guess this ends the discussion regarding the need for water filtration on the MMWT. Any further questions?