Mission Mt. Whitney Summit was accomplished. All five of us.
I am now paying for taking Thursday and Friday off by having to answer some 300 emails, so pics will have to wait
The following are the salient points:
1. No ice-axes and crampons were required. Did carry them up to Trail Camp, but left them there on the advice of BobR, whom we had the opportunity to meet (and get photographed with
) at Trail Camp.
2. The cables are relatively easy. It was exactly as BobR described: "Wall of snow on one side, cables on the other." You can hold both hiking poles in one hand and grab the cable with the free hand most of the way... but as always the second cable from top is too far away from the face of the mountain for most people
3. Plenty of water on switcback 23. "Flowing like a banshee" is what BobR said in one of his posts, I think
4. Take care not to get off the trail while coming up from Mirrror Lake. We realized we were off trail having hiked up a snowfield and then having to come down. From Trailside Meadows I could see another group doing the same thing and tried to wave at them but they weren't looking and I did not have the sun angled right for a mirror. Hope they made it OK
5. There IS snow by Keeler needle. Stay close to the mountain and you should be fine. Guy before me went left while going up and sank twice to his knees in quick succession. Dangerous if you lose your balance. Looked about 1000 feet dangerous... but could be less... wouldn't make a difference
6. We lost the trail briefly coming down in the dark half a mile above Mirror Lake. Found it back with some careful searching, with one scout and 4 people maintaining about 15 yards separation each so as not to lose last few reference points
Thanks to everyone who helped with their posts on this board, and good luck to those needing to read this! Have a good hike!
- N
