Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board rockwell shortcut?

So... I have been watching some video of whitney on youtube to get pumped for my climb...

Anywho one of the videos references the "rockwell shortcut" as a way to stay above the creek on the way to the e-ledge and avoid the stream crossings.

Any thoughts / info on this route?

Hi Interest is picking up on one of the 5 main routes up the first canyon . I say five because many of the climbers in the past had a favorite way to go , each required at least 3 rd class climbing and one had a short section of 5 th class but if done in the dark non climbers would not see the drop and was able to do it unroped.

This lead to nonclimbers going up the first canyon and find starts to these various routes and then not kowning where to go so they would get lost, doing damage to the canyon and not making it to Lower Boyscout lake.


Out of this came one use path that has now reduced the damage to the canyon , many people can follow this path and reach Lower Boyscout Lake without hours of aimless wandering.


This path turns out to be faster than any of the shortcuts if you have a pack and do not know the total alternate path.



If the stream crossing are a concern I would think staying on the regular Whitney trail would be a better choice at that skill level. Thanks Doug

Doug,

Thanks for the info. The technical aspects of a stream cross are not really a concern. However presented with the options of doing a little climbing or crossing streams, a little climbing simply seams like more fun.

I have only heard about the shortcut mentioned once in my research so I was simply hoping to get more info about it.

Shawn

Ditto what Doug says. You need to know the alternates prior to trying them. Lots of photos documenting the north side of the canyon in photo albums by some of the regulars. Look at Bob R's and mine as a starting point.

Or, go with someone who knows the route the first time.