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

Has anyone been up either the MR or trail over the weekend (10/16-17)? We're interested if snow has accumulated and where, how deep, icy conditions, etc.

Thanks!

Carpathian's trip report from 10/12 mentions consistent snow of 1 foot deep above trail camp to the summit, with drifts of 2-3 feet now and then. That would put 1 foot of snow at Iceberg Lake also.

Saturday night sunday storm brought rain all the way from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe. Certainly that would bring even more snow to the whole Whitney area, which will continue for two - three more days.

Sounds like winter is here early this year.

I was camped at shepards pass, at the base of Mt Tyndall (~12,000') on saturday night. When we got there, there was no snow. Up on Tyndall, we could see a little, but not much. While saturday was a beautiful day, it began snowing around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday. Not too much snow accumulated, I would guess only about an inch or two fell. It was very windy though, so we put off a summit attempt of Tyndall.

I would guess that at most, you would only encounter an two or or three inches above 12,000'. Even then, it may be bare in some places and drifted in others. Probably in the 20's at night though! Plan for winter conditions.

WE are also trying to get to the top of Whit this weekend .....is it going to be as bad as the other messages?

Can we do it without and axe and crampons?

Thanks

I was at the summit on the 17 & 18 and have posted the conditions.
I prefer ski/trekking poles unless I'm roped up or on glaciers and steep terrain where self-arresting is key. Crampons for me were a necessity.