[pct-l] Camping on Mount Whitney

[Diane Soini]

Not only that, but I'm surprised nobody has mentioned yet that people  
have died sleeping in the building atop Mt. Whitney when it has been  
struck by lightning. You do not want to sleep in there.

On May 27, 2013, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> From: Scott Williams <baidarker at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Camping on Mount Whitney
>
> If you're leaving in 16 days, that's still early season for the High
> Sierra, which is why most thru hikers have the JMT all to  
> themselves for
> most of the distance.  It's totally doable, especially in this low  
> snow
> year, and you'd be getting to Whitney toward the end of the month.   
> If you
> choose to camp on top, I'd want more than a 30 degree bag  
> personally, as it
> is still potentially really cold up there, still dipping into the  
> teens and
> 20s at night at times.  It's much warmer just a bit lower if you  
> pick a
> protected spot as Mark mentioned, or even lower than that.  Most
> importantly, however, be really cognizant of the weather.   
> Thunderstorms
> usually build up during the afternoons and clear at night in  
> summer, but
> not always.   I've been thundered and snowed on in the Sierra, spring,
> summer and fall, day and night.  The Sierra are known for having  
> the "most
> benign summer weather" of any major mountain range in the world,  
> but that
> doesn't mean you still don't get some doozies any time of year and  
> being on
> top is not where you want to be in a thunder storm.
>
> Sounds like a good plan all around.
>
> Shroomer