Kevin Rooney
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Several have asked to be kept posted on Whitney conditions. I was there yesterday to scout the trail as several friends will be climbing it with me at the end of the month. Here's what I found:
Brutus and I climbed part-way yesterday, and turned around a bit above Mirror Lake (about 11K'). Snow level is around 9,800' (Ranger station has said 9K', but it was bone dry at 9). We didn't carry snowshoes, but some climbers were carrying them. We post-holed only rarely, and then it was mostly near a large boulder/bushy areas - places likely to contain airpockets. Temps have been above normal for the past couple of weeks, so the heavy snows are receding rapidly. That's good news, but ... it has made afternoon thunderstorms likely, which happened yesterday, othewise we'd have gone to Consultation Lake/Trail Camp, at around 12,3'. Hopefully conditions will be more stable in a couple of weeks. In any case, an extra early start may be in order, especially on summit day.
Very few climbers on the trail - maybe 12, and all of them from "away". Snow keeps most of the locals away, interestingly enough. People I talked to were from Virginia, Chicago, Detroit and Des Moines.
Boots - the corn snow is particularly wet, and some of you have plastic boots. While I'm not a big fan of clomping along on dry ground with plastics, the extra level of dryness may be worth it - am considering using my plastics for Whitney. Granted, feet sweat in plastics, but it's nothing like corn snow. And, my Raichle's are heavy leathers to boot (pun intended) and don't soak thru easily. My WAG is that by June 1st it will be dry from the TH to Lone Pine Lake.
Bear activity is high, with one break-in already, so be sure all food and toiletries (including dirty clothes) are stored in the bear lockers. It's advised to have nothing visible in the car - make it look like it came from the showroom. Stow your stuff in the trunk.
Some changes for those familiar with Whitney - permits are no longer obtained at the USFS Ranger Station in Lone Pine. Rather, they're at the Interagency Center, located about 3 miles south of town at the intersection of CA136 & US395. It's the first building on the right. Actually, it's the only building on the right for about the next 150 miles, as CA136 heads for Death Valley! Right now they're located in the little bldg within this small complex - the large bldg within the complex is the new Center but it will probably be awhile ($$) before they move in.
It appears that you now need a permit above the 1 mile marker, based upon a new trail sign. Previously you could go up to Lone Pine Lake before a permit was required.
Will try to post updated info from the summit climb in early June.
Kevin
Brutus and I climbed part-way yesterday, and turned around a bit above Mirror Lake (about 11K'). Snow level is around 9,800' (Ranger station has said 9K', but it was bone dry at 9). We didn't carry snowshoes, but some climbers were carrying them. We post-holed only rarely, and then it was mostly near a large boulder/bushy areas - places likely to contain airpockets. Temps have been above normal for the past couple of weeks, so the heavy snows are receding rapidly. That's good news, but ... it has made afternoon thunderstorms likely, which happened yesterday, othewise we'd have gone to Consultation Lake/Trail Camp, at around 12,3'. Hopefully conditions will be more stable in a couple of weeks. In any case, an extra early start may be in order, especially on summit day.
Very few climbers on the trail - maybe 12, and all of them from "away". Snow keeps most of the locals away, interestingly enough. People I talked to were from Virginia, Chicago, Detroit and Des Moines.
Boots - the corn snow is particularly wet, and some of you have plastic boots. While I'm not a big fan of clomping along on dry ground with plastics, the extra level of dryness may be worth it - am considering using my plastics for Whitney. Granted, feet sweat in plastics, but it's nothing like corn snow. And, my Raichle's are heavy leathers to boot (pun intended) and don't soak thru easily. My WAG is that by June 1st it will be dry from the TH to Lone Pine Lake.
Bear activity is high, with one break-in already, so be sure all food and toiletries (including dirty clothes) are stored in the bear lockers. It's advised to have nothing visible in the car - make it look like it came from the showroom. Stow your stuff in the trunk.
Some changes for those familiar with Whitney - permits are no longer obtained at the USFS Ranger Station in Lone Pine. Rather, they're at the Interagency Center, located about 3 miles south of town at the intersection of CA136 & US395. It's the first building on the right. Actually, it's the only building on the right for about the next 150 miles, as CA136 heads for Death Valley! Right now they're located in the little bldg within this small complex - the large bldg within the complex is the new Center but it will probably be awhile ($$) before they move in.
It appears that you now need a permit above the 1 mile marker, based upon a new trail sign. Previously you could go up to Lone Pine Lake before a permit was required.
Will try to post updated info from the summit climb in early June.
Kevin
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