Re: [pct-l] Climbing Mt. Whitney

[Birgitte Jensen <bjensen4@juno.com>]

Linda, as of this last weekend, there was snow in places on the
switchbacks leading up to the saddle from Trail Camp (and ropes set in,
altho nobody's using them); people just manoevered around the snowy
parts, but most should be gone when you get there in late July - it's
been unusually dry on Whitney this year. There's usually a bit of
near-level snow well-worn with bootprints just below the saddle, but all
you'll want is poles for balance at most. No crampons or any sort or ice
axes need _now_, so you'll have no problems a month from now, honest.

There are snow-patches easily walked over on the 2-mile trail to the
summit (which should melt soon), and a big snowpatch just below the
summit, remnants of which may still be there when you are. Just walk in
the bootprints - there's no danger or anything, but you might need the
prints to help locate the trail itself: it's a bit hard to see the actual
summit from below the snowpatch, that's all.

For awhile hikers _had_ to climb up/glissade down the snow to the right
of the switchbacks, but now only those looking for some fun or trying to
save time do - I think the FS frowns on it, in fact. All the toilets are
open, which means summer's officially here. <g> The trail to Trail Camp
should be totally snow-free by your trip-date, BTW.

If you want a more private/equally-high spot to camp away from the Trail
Camp crowds, lemme know... have fun and send me a trip report! Thanks,   
          bj



>I am going to be hiking Mt. Whitney July 21-23 approx.  Hiking the
>traditional route, Mt. Whitney trail from Whitney Portal.  Staying at 
>Trail camp at least 1 night.   Has anybody summited recently?  What are 
>trail conditons like?  Is there much snow?  Any need for instep
crampons, >or ice ax???   I know its a couple of wk away yet and lots of
snow can >melt in that time, but I will leaving July 4th and will not be
near the >internet.  Please respond directly to Linda at
laj8190@garnet.acns.fsu.edu >for I do not get to read the PCT digest
every day.  Thanks.

___________________________________________________________________
Get the Internet just the way you want it.
Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month!
Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
* From the Pacific Crest Trail Email List |  http://www.backcountry.net   *

==============================================================================