Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board WPSMB Group MR Climb, Second Edition?

I'm going to be on the MR thur-sun. My climbing partner got sick and bowed out. I climbed to the notch last april but have yet to summit MR in snowy conditions. I am hoping to join you guys?
I know it's all unofficial but I just wanted to throw my name out there. It's Ben.

I could possibly give a ride from san diego if anyone is in need. Leaving EARLY thursday...

Sorry Ryan.

A wise old man recently warned me that I should stop picking on Jeff. I understod then, but completely understand now..... (I think we can declare the 2011 SAW (Scully Award Winner) already.)

I hope things work out for you MC. I went thru the Knee Scare a few years ago and am glad it resolved itself.

Peter, thanks for the photos. It's nice to see that we won't have to do all of those boring miles (for me at least) on the road.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and prayers. I hope everyone has a great time this weekend. Be safe...

MC, I hope your PT sessions continue to go well. Get better soon, you've got mountains in your future.

Based on Kurt's post...

Maybe we should cancel? I don't mind taking risks when I'm by myself, but would hate to think that someone else got in trouble by following my (sometimes) reckless behavior. I definitely don't feel like going up with a transceiver. There are other places I can climb without the need.

Works for me as long as I don't get more SAWs for my mantle.

I'll leave it up to those wiser than me.
But...
I'm leaving for Independence from work this afternoon, then to the Portal tomorrow. If there's a consensus to cancel I'd go for a fallback plan. (In fact I may want to go back home and get skis).

Kurt's photos are from Sunday, just after the last snow and wind. What will 5 days do to the snow?

Anyhow, whoever wants to hang out at the Portal Thursday night, then maybe down to AH cafe for breakfast Friday could make a final decision. I'm pretty sure Fishmonger would like to do a group trip even if it isn't Whitney.

We are not really going to know unless somebody/we go up to see what the conditions are like. Given the weather, conditions will have changed in the last 5 days but we dont know by how much.

LOL Richard No worries I know it's all in good fun! Seriously I only get IRKED when someone bags on me and when they flake they make all these excuses.....Some like to say sh.. happens I like to say LIFE happens....

Hi I drove up early this morning checking on the temperature and lower slides, It was 45 degrees in the Portal about 7 AM You can see the track up the North Fork which says two things track is about 100' wide and deep so people are not setting a track and the snow is soft.
Miles and Amy went to Day Needle yesterday and second hand report is good going up but very soft and wet coming down . The wind started in town about an hour ago so should have wind on the crest ,this would keep the surface stiff above 12,000' but with the warm temperatures the lower sections will be soft and wet.I had hoped to see Miles and Amy before I posted as they were going to take pictures and I could get a sink factor on the upper section above Lower Boyscout Lake. I will try to hook up with them this afternoon , also Fish had planned to take a test trip and he should have some more details. But just thinking about it I was able to get Miles to go for the missing bootmans pack last year in a blizard without an ice ax because it would have slowed him down? Thanks Doug

I wouldn't know how to answer the question... Experience tells me we (I) haven't seen snow like this on Whitney ever.

I think we should ask Peter what he'd like to do (he has travelled farther than anyone will) as an alternative.

I am not going to second guess Kurt on this. I have too much respect for his decision-making in regard to travelling with others in the mountains.

Hi I will be cancelling also,to many (ifs)..I just can't chance it when I can go later on..

I dont mind taking chances when I hike alone, but this avi worrys me...

chocolate chip cookies will be put on hold...

Ryan B.. sorry for your loss..see you on next trip...

mark

Richard and all,

Well, I (and Carole) will have to bow out now... I'm feeling better but it's going to take a couple days for my energy levels to come back up. Ain't no way I'm going to be worth much above 10k ft or with a pack on my back right now...

Before reading the last few posts, I was going going to make the following suggestion given the number of people that can no longer make the hike (including myself) but perhaps it's more appropriate now. Why don't we give the snow some time to settle and "not" plan this again for a couple weeks from now? I'm all good with that.

Brandon

Also, not sure if anyone's been tracking the weather but there is a chance of snow this weekend, particularly on Saturday for the high Sierra. For those not able to go that may make you feel a little bit better. Sorry though for those still wanting to go. Hopefully it's not that bad.

Thanks Mark. See you next time.

With your experience of the Whitney Zone and your pearls of wisdom above... nuff said. Though I prefer to think of your "(sometimes) reckless behavior", when going solo, as calculated risk taking and you know my quote on that... I just read the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center's report: Fourth avalanche fatality of the season in the Cascades this past weekend. The west coast has had an unprecedented season.

Thank you all for the encouraging words regarding my knee rehabilitation... I am determined as one can be to keep climbing. Off to PT right now. Btw, before my knee got really bad, I'd been planning a climb in Pakistan within the next few years. My friend, Mirza, and I just came up with a plan B. Since my issues are only on descent, he will take me on a 6000m peak where we can rappel down. Then for the long trek back to his village, I will ride a yak.

I'll be thinking of you guys; wherever you decide to climb this weekend.

I'm on the road. Hope to see somebody there. I'll drop by the hostel tomorrow late morning then head up to the portal.

Jim

Richard do you mean the "amount" of snow or quality of the snow. I know Mammoth has had a record breaking year and I assume Whitney does as well. Should make for allot of cancelations for Whitney Permits in JUne!!!!!
Yeti

This rookie will also be staying home this weekend. I hope we can Regroup and get another climb in soon, maybe Jeff will be available!

I am going up.

I've been watching this for a few weeks, daily - been going down one click each day since Sunday:
http://esavalanche.org/

I'll start tomorrow afternoon to set up camp at the portal, then on Friday head higher early so the snow can carry the weight. The wet snow in the afternoons is the only real problem. I may bring the snow shoes.

Met two guys coming down from 12,000 today, both reported snow good up to about noon, then wet and soft. They were using snow shoes down ot the store and felt that in the afternoon they were necessary. The trail did carry me with a 30 pound pack easily, though and they were carrying something like 100 pounds each - I was offered two cups of pudding (ready-made) from their leftovers, just to illustrate their pack contents.

Snow is melting fast in the Portal area - today it was quite different from yesterday with almost all the snow on and along the road below 8000 gone. The wind died down around 4pm when I got down to the bottom of the road. The snow high on the mountain looks "shiny" as if the surface had melted and then refroze. Very different from yesterday.

Thanks for forwarding the trip report and snow conditions fishmonger. Sounds like the conditions have improved since last weeks avi test.

I am still on the fence as to whether I can go or not, I will hopefully find out soon. Anybody else planning on heading up? If I went I woulden't be able to make it to the portal until late thursday night (tonight).

I'm in Independence and will drop by the Hostel around noon then head up to the Portal. I'm driving an old white Subaru Outback.

Anybody who wants to get together this afternoon give me a call:
three ten area code nine forty -
sixty one thirteen.