Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Main Trail conditions thread 5/13-11/13

Cecil B. DeMille could not have a better scene than that photo!

We're looking to dayhike on Sunday. Any news on conditions above the cables?

I hiked up the Main Trail yesterday, Sunday October 20. The conditions for hiking have markedly improved since the snowfall 12 days ago.

A few patches of snow and ice were encountered from the TH to Trail Camp. The ice was easily avoided. From Trail Camp to the Summit there was a mixture of powdered snow and dirt on the trail. On the snow there was an easy track to follow. The cable area was in good condition and easy to cross.

Trail running shoes worked fine for me. Hiking poles were really helpful.

No lakes showed evidence of freezing. No water was flowing onto the trail from the spring on the 23rd switchback.

Looks like the recent nice Fall weather will continue the next few days. Very nice Fall colors are appreciated along Lone Pine Creek all the ways down into the Alabama Hills.

Enjoy the Fall season in the Sierras.

Jim F

Hi All,

I just wanted to confirm that Whitney Portal Road is open all the way to the Portal Store right now? I cycled WPR from Lone Pine to the Portal Store in July, and was considering giving it another run.

Thanks,
J-G

Hi Road is open, warm after sun hits the canyon say 10-3, ride up should be nice but in the canyon expect it to be cool. Thanks

Although the quota period has ended, due to the current conditions on the Mountain, I figured it more appropriate to place this update here, rather than in the Winter Access Forum.

Yesterday, Saturday November 2, outstanding Fall hiking conditions prevailed on the Main Trail. At Whitney Portal at 4 AM it was 39F and 37F at 6 PM. The skies were clear and wind was not an issue. My trail runners were still sufficient to navigate the intermittent stretches of snow. Patches of ice were easily avoided. Many hikers wore traction devices on their shoes. Hiking poles were very useful.

I found no faucets working at the Portal. Bathrooms were open and serviced. My last intake of water was at the spring in Bighorn Park. I left there with one quart of water which was adequate until my return there on the descent. The pond at Trail Camp is freezing quickly, but Consultation Lake is free of ice.

Numerous enthusiastic hikers were met on the trail. I counted 33 cars at Whitney Portal when I left.

Jim F

Climbed the Main Trail over 11/2-3 to the summit. Patchy ice below Trail Camp did not require spikes. However, above Trail Camp the switchbacks were entirely snow covered. Microspikes & poles were necessary for safety, though a few tempted fate without.

Nighttime temps at Trail Camp dropped to 17, with moderate winds. Lake was frozen over, but a small hole remained for filtering water. May not be possible much longer, however.

Sunday summit temps were in the 30s, but wind chill was likely in the teens.

New Year's Day 2014:
Launched at 4:00 NYD from just w of the Meysan TH as the road was still covered in snow beyond that point (nice stuck "yard art" up a the portal). Didn't recognize Davey and Tracy until later that morning in better light. Shared a good day on the mountain with them. We decided to try the switchbacks as the boot track led that way. There was no boot track up the gully and the snow was slabby and looked prone to sliding, so up the switchers we went. Just beyond the cables it got sketchy with big drifts and big exposure without the needed time to dig a proper path through. Opted to live to fight another day. Report that the NF route is very icy above UBSL these days. We need more snow!

No action on this thread since January? Is my browser malfunctioning?

Well, assuming it's working...I'm making my annual trek up to the peak, this time with family and friends. As usual, I'm checking on the water situation on the lower part of the 97 switchbacks below Trail Crest. Anyone know if there's water flowing right now? Also, is there any usable snow near the peak?

One other question. I've always done the round trip during daylight hours. With my companions we may finish after dark. I'm wondering if the rocky sections from Trail Camp down to Outpost Camp are hard to make out in the dark, as I sometimes have to look around a bit even in the daylight to determine the the route. Any comments?

Thanks in advance.

z

In June, I met two people (not hiking together) that lost the trail in this section. Some believe that a recent fatality occurred in this area because a hiker lost the trail.

If I know that I am going to be hiking in the dark, I prefer to start in that dark rather than end in the dark. That being said though, with good headlamps and taking your time, you should be ok.

Thanks for the reply. I agree it's better to start in the dark, but we'll be getting the same day permits from cancellations so we can't start before 9:00 because we need the permit. We may have the slower people start early and then we'll catch up to them at Lone Pine Lake, which would probably save some time.

I guess it's not just me who finds the trail just a little tenuous in that section, huh? Not hard to follow, just a little more attention required than walking along a dirt path. Since this is my 6th time, I probably won't have much trouble even if it is in the dark - just being cautious.

Any word from anyone on the spring on the switchbacks?

z

I've heard running water, but have not seen any, probably due to the fact that I've passed that section in the dark each time. There also hasn't been the flow across a few of the Switchbacks that you see in summer prime time.

On another note: the ice is starting to form up at The Cables. Probably won't be long before there's the usual bulge of ice across the width of the trail up there.

Is it July 2015 yet?

Conditions Update for Spring at 23rd Switchback:

I came down the Main Trail in the early afternoon August 11 (rain, hail, snow) and September 3 (awesome weather, 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act signed by LBJ 9/3/64). On 8/11 the spring was flowing wildly. On 9/3 it was approaching exhaustion.

I will be in the area again in a couple of weeks. If anyone finds the spring no longer useful, could you please report here.

Thanks and enjoy the Fall Season.

Jim

I'd definitely consider Trail Camp as high water now. The spring is damp... if you were desperate, you could pretend to be Bear Gryls and put a tongue down or dig a whole for a bit of water.

Richard,

Thanks for the update on the spring.

Jim

Just wondering how the weather is and also what the water conditions are on the main trail of Mt. Whitney. My brother and I will climb it on 9/25 up & back down the same day.

In spite of poor weather, it was warm enough this past weekend for most of the precip to be in the form of rain... Doug may have an update on what's happened since Sunday afternoon.

Check the NOAA website for a forecast.

Here is a photo of conditions at the Cables:



The Cables are still mostly dry trail, but the Ice Bulge is getting bigger and bigger by the week.

Hi Richard

Wondering if you would like to come up and do a Whitney summit with me and Tracy.. Hoping all is well… Despite the condition of the trail…

Sure.

I'll be up at the Portal at lease one day a weekend until the WPS closes.