Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board May/June Conditions on the Main Whitney Trail

Hi, My wife and I managed to summit yesterday June 26th.

We both don't have an incredible amount of knowledge with hiking in snow and so forth. As stated before, there is about a 5 foot section in the cables that remains rather icy through the day with water typically flowing over it. We brought crampons and used them there.

Trekking poles were fine. There are some high exposure spots where you have to traverse snow up to trail crest (the cut in the snow actually places you about 50 feet south of the actual trail crest...) and going up to the summit. My wife hasn't ever done this type of stuff and found it doable but a little unnerving at times.

Oh and this was the first time we used crampons.... success!

Hope you all have a safe trip!

We are summitting on July 6th. Has the snow melted off yet? Ice axes or crampons needed? We are a mixed group of beginners/advanced hikers.

My friend and I went up and down on sunday the 28th. There is still a some snow around the cables area and some of the switchbacks. There is also some snow on the back side. There is about a 3 foot section of ice on the upper part of the cables but is very passable if you are careful. we didnt have crampons or iceaxes, just our treking poles and they worked great. i only saw one person using their crampons. The weather is supposed to be warmer this week so some of the snow should melt off. we hit the snow about 8am and it was starting to thaw and on the way back down it was all slushy but the one section of ice was still frozen with water running over it. But you have to remember that you should only go as far as you are comfortable and never do anything that you feel is life threatening. Also altitude plays a major role and if you aren't experienced it can be hard to concentrate and lose your footing, which i'm sure you know but i just wanted to reiterate. So in all i feel that they are not needed but you can never be too prepared and if you don't feel comfortable without them then take them. good luck and have a great hike.

This is my first time up Whitney and I am wondering what is the best course of action if there is lightning or a storm coming on while either at the summit or on the switchbacks or any other exposed areas during the ascent/descent.

Thank you!

Hi--from the Day Hiking Mt. Whitney section --
"Lightning- You should not hike above Trail Crest if you see swelling clouds or signs of rain. Thunderstorms can develop quickly in the mountains and the upper trail is very exposed to lightning. If you see swelling clouds you should descend below Trail Crest immediately. They are the first stage of thunderstorm growth and can become dangerous in a matter of minutes. These white or gray clouds with flat bases are taller than they are wide. The earlier in the day that swelling clouds appear, the greater the probability that they will develop into thunderstorms. Their growth can usually be seen with the naked eye, and the faster the swelling clouds are growing the more threatening the situation. Lightning strikes can send an electrical current radiating through the ground over a large area. This "ground current" is usually the lethal force in storm-related fatalities.

Never take an electrical storm casually. If lightning threatens while you are on the trail, take immediate action:

* Move away from a tall, solitary tree or any lone, tall object. Isolated high-rise objects are likely strike points for lightning.
* Descend from ridgelines or peaks. Lightning tends to strike prominent topographic features. In threatening weather, move away from high points and exposed areas. Head for lower ground.
* Stay away from water.
* Separate yourself from metal or graphite objects, including external-frame packs, ice axes, trekking poles and crampons.
* Keep out of shallow caves or overhangs. Lightning's current easily jumps across gaps and could jolt a person standing in the mouth of a cave.
* Insulate yourself from the ground; sit on an internal-frame pack or sleeping pad. Or crouch on the ground with your feet close together. If a ground current reaches you, it most likely will travel only through your feet. Do not lie down (since it expands your contact with the ground).
* Have members in your party spread out by at least 25 feet, farther if possible.
* A strike victim can be revived by CPR.
* Where is the best place to be? Within a group of trees of roughly uniform height in a low-lying area or, as a second option, in a low spot of an open meadow."

The best advice is to avoid the situation at all cost if you can by leaving very early and planning to be off the summit by noon or one...good luck!!! Nancy

Thank you Nancy!

Judging from the TRs from over the weekend of June 27-28 on other threads, it would be VERY WISE to bring them! I don't believe Mother Nature has every intention of working OT to rid the trail of snow and ice in a span of 8-9 days.

Have fun.

Puffy clouds spell trouble later in the afternoon.

I usually set a deadline for the summit at 1:00 p.m. regardless of start time. Wherever I may roam on the MWT, if the watch says 1:00, then I am done ascending.

Storms tend to form around the afternoon hours. Such was not the case for me and my wife and friend BruinDave on 07-17-08. The storm blew in from the south and picked up a lot of energy. We got the rain, the hail, the sleet, and the lightning. The lightning strikes were more towards Hitchcock. Memorable hike. Lucky.

I am not a meteorologist, so maybe dmatt can chime in here. I just keep observation notes and learn from them and do research and ask a lot of questions.

Have fun.

That 1:00 p.m. deadline was right on for us four years ago. We got a late start from Trail Camp and didn't hit the trail until about 9:00 a.m. I got up to the hut about 12:30 p.m., but thunderstorms were seemingly all around us not too far away. Needless to say I stayed on the summit just long enough to take a few pictures and sign the register and then started down as quick as possible. My brother was about a half mile behind me and was determined to summit despite the danger of lightning. He got there about 1:00 p.m., touched the hut and then started down. The hail began shortly thereafter. It was warm and really kind of nice, but there was a great potential to get fried!

Now we're heading up there again next Tuesday and will try to get an unused permit. If we're lucky and get a permit, we've already decided we'd leave Trail Camp no later than 6:00 a.m. to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms. I'm not ready to meet my maker just yet, but there are many worse ways to go. I see my Dad wasting away with dementia at 87 years old and think a lightning bolt on Mt. Whitney might not be so bad. That reminds me of a story in the Sac Bee about five years ago describing a gentleman who was hiking with his sister to their favorite waterfall in Yosemite. He sat down next to the waterfall to take a little "nap" and never woke up--died peacefully of a heart attack right there. That's how I'd want to go.

Hey - what happened to the last post? The guy was talking about how funny he thought people were on the forum? I registered to agree with him - and now the post is gone. Anyway, I went to the summit on July 1 with my 15 year old niece. We did it in running shoes and without trekking poles. There was snow - but it was soft and not scary. The area around the cables was the worst, but melting fast and not a problem.

Mt. Whitney is a fairly challenging day hike.

LMAO!!! If I had to guess it was involuntary edited......... Maybe it's my charming witt and dry humor, with a dash of no BS....

JUST SAY NO!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYONE!

PEACE,
Gabriel

Made it up and back July 2.
The snow crux by cables was hard early, but soft and melting out fast on the return. A couple switchbacks remained snow covered at their ends, but can be avoided. Trekking poles work fine crossing the remaining snow patches. When the sun starts warming things up some of the switchback trails become small gushing creeks! I doubt the snow will be an issue at all within a few days or week at the most if the toaster days keep coming.

Mt. Whitney is one tough day hike! Enjoyed it, and as always you meet some fine and friendly folk in the mountains~