Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 10 for '10 - Main Trail - June 19, 2010

Jazzed to have reached ten successful summits for the year so early in the year!



Two ahead on the slope to Trail Crest.



The west side terrain on the way down.



The view up from Trail Camp.



A steep travese awaits you if you head up the switchbacks above Trailside Meadow.
Climbers contemplating what to do at right, center.
The "easier" route (maybe another week, or so) right now is to head up to snow at the head of Trailside Meadow.


Notes:

- Guide Chris came down with some clients this morning and reported that the MR is in "great shape right now" and the Final 400' may be climbed on dry rock. (I've been avoiding that side of the mountain since I hadn't heard an accurate report on conditions since RG was up there before the last storm.)

- My guess (which seems to match Bob R's report) is that the slope to Trail Crest may start to be out of shape in a week, or so, and the Trail ought to be in shape in the same time frame. The sun cups on the slope are getting bigger and bigger by the week and some rock is starting to show thru the snow in spots.

- I had everything on (Thermal, windbreaker, down jacket, balaclava, two pairs of gloves) from below Trail Camp to the summit and back to the gully below the slope up to Trial Crest. From there down, it was a long sleeve cotton T-shirt. Quite a change in temperature in a few hours of daylight and a few thousand feet of elevation loss.

Richard, congrats on batting 1.000 so far this year - looks like 100 may happen in '10? Your regular first-hand reports on Whitney's condition are invaluable, and much appreciated. I'll be heading up in about 3 weeks, and I'm really looking forward to what you have to say over the next couple of weekends - particularly re the switchbacks and cables. As always, your photos are great.

Thanks for the comments...

I knew I should have put a comment in there about it not being 10 out of 10. As many times as I've turned around below the summit this year, I'd guess the batting average is only around .500. I've been having a blast doing these late-night, early morning climbs. I get a kick out of setting goals like: if I make it down in around 3 1/2 hours, I can have breakfast at the Portal. Apologies to anybody I may have blown past, without saying much, on the way down , but by Trail Crest, I was smelling bacon and eggs. :-)

I am batting 1.000 since our much-maligned Group Climb up the MR. Thanks to those participants who started me on the current streak!

Priorities are priorities. When it comes to WPS food, no one could possibly blame you.

Thanks for this latest excellent report.

I'm heading up on 2nd / 3rd July (a first timer - party of one), and my biggest concern is whether I should try the switchbacks or the chute. I guess asking at the trailhead would get the best responses.

Thanks again for the great report and pics.
Jonathan.

Richard, Give me a BREAK!!!! I haven't been above see level yet this year.

Crazy Jack

You can say that again. I've had Doug's burgers, but never breakfast. Saturday I had my first taste of Doug's "petite" pancakes. Delicious, and obviously big enough! I was there with my parents, brother and his kids, and my two kids. Foolishly I ordered two pancakes for three of us...

I told the kids that Lone Pine Lake is "about a mile". When we passed the Wilderness Boundary sign they saw the "2.5 miles" and called me out. Still, fueled with several hundred grams of carbs, the kids all did fine- making the lake in a bit over two hours.

Jim

Thanx for the report and pix Richard. Beta might come in handy soon. And congo rats on the 10 summits to date.