Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trail Conditions?

Anybody summited in the last week or so? What are the trail conditions? How's the ice above Trail Camp, I am going up Thursday and although I will bring my crampons and ice axe, I would really rather not carry them if it's not necessary.

There hasn't been snow and ice around forever. Forget the winter gear.

Bill

Would the snow/ice conditions be the same for the mountaineer's route? We are planning a trip next weekend and were debating on whether crampons were necessary or not. Thanks!

Should be the same for either route.
I'm going up the MR over Labor Day weekend with no plans to bring any winter gear.

CaT

The MR will be dry as a bone, except for the effects of occasional thunderstorms up high. There will be water in the rivers and lakes but dry between. Up on the staircase/ chute above the notch (at 14100 feet), running water sometimes freezes over at night. Consequently you get patches of ice you have to be carefull with or go around. These ice patches tend to come down the center of the chute, so you will stay on the sides. The snowfield just below the summit, even though it can persist all year, can easy be bypassed.

So you wouldn't need crampons or iceaxe until the winter snow hits.

CaT,

We'll also be heading up Labor Day weekend. The plan is Friday to Iceberg, up the MR on Saturday, stay at Iceberg Sat night, and out on Sunday. If the weather is good and we're feeling up to it we may try Mt. Russell as well on Sat or Sun. Since this is the first time for all of us up there, we wanted to allow lots of time to acclimate and make it up to the peak. Hope to see you up there!
Melissa

My itinerary at the moment is:

Arrive LAX from Columbus, OH late Friday night (overnight at my mom's place near Palmdale for a few hours). Arrive at the Portal as early as reasonably possible on Saturday; stake out a walk-in camping spot at the Portal campground, set up camp, and then spend the rest of that day doing a warm-up acclimating hike by seeing how far I can get up the MR and/or (if time allows) checking out Thor Peak (the latter may be a bit over-zealous ... we'll see). Camp at Portal Saturday evening and meet up with Richard Piotrowski the same evening. Dayhike the MR on Sunday with Richard Piotrowski. If all goes well, return to my mom's place the same evening to overnight. Spend Monday with her (she's 80). Catch a redeye back to Columbus that departs LAX Monday night. A bit of a whirlwind weekend, but doing Whitney makes it all worth it (I'll be dining on this experience for weeks).

Sounds like I might run into you up at Iceberg on Saturday -- likely after you have already returned from the summit, and then possibly again on Sunday as Richard and I are heading up and you are descending. Here is a link to a picture of me from last year. Hope to see you up there, as well!

http://community.webshots.com/scripts/show.fcgi?t=slideshow&ID=179674226&key=izavCt

CaT
(David)

Wow!, all the way from Ohio! Do you make it out to California for hiking often? Sounds like its shaping up to be a great weekend. I'm already soo excited, (and just a bit nervous). I don't have any pictures posted, but our group will be hard to miss - there are six of us, five guys and one girl (me . Thanks for the picture - hope to see you on the trail, and stop by our campsite at Iceberg if you get the chance!!

Bill, thanks for the info, I am going with a first timer and really didnt want to carry two sets.

Melissa - Not often enough. Wish I lived in CA close to the mountains, but away from the major polluted cities -- I lived in LA and the Palmdale area my first 28 years, but this is what happens when you marry an Ohio girl.

I will probably do Thor Peak on the 4th. Don't know if time/energy will allow for a further ascent to Iceberg Lake after that and then back down to the Portal in time for dinner the same day. It may be doable -- we'll see.

Looks like Richard, lawaneke and myself will be doing the summit via the MR the same day as you. But since you are starting from Iceberg Lake, and we are starting from the Portal (albeit at 5am), you will most likely get there first, unless you sleep in. But nonetheless, perhaps we'll see you on or near the summit that day. We won't see you at Iceberg that evening, because we will be returning to the Portal via the main trail, if all goes according to plan.

Hope to run into you all. One week from this moment, you and your group will be sleeping at Iceberg and our group will be doing the same at the Portal!! Can hardly wait.

CaT

Melissa-

If you are open to another option, consider camping at Lower Boy Scout the first night, Iceberg the second night, summit and back to to the portal on the last day. It is a much easier way to acclimatize by gaining only 2000 vertical per day. It makes for a longer last day, but it is all down hill after the summit and the smell of Doug's burgers keeps you going. However you end up doing it, have fun and climb safely.

Sierra Sam - Thanks for the advice. We did consider your suggested trip itinerary, however we opted for Iceberg with the hopes of also climbing either Mt Muir on the second day from the Whitney peak, or else climbing Mt. Russell on the last day before heading out. These add-ons will depend on weather and how the group is feeling. We will be spending the night before the hike at the Portal Campgound, hoping to aid in dealing with the altitude.

CaT - A few days and counting - Enjoy your trip! Hope to see you up there!

Thanks. We're into the final stretch -- I can almost taste the Sierra atmosphere from here!

CaT

I think it is worth it to hike the extra bit the first day and camp at upper Boy Scout or Ice Berg. From what we saw, camping at Iceberg should be great as long as the weather holds (light or no wind) and relatively clear skies. That's how the next trip will go, camp there and ascend the next day. We could have used the acclimization.
This is great time to do Whitney.