Story:
This was a great trip to Mt Whitney summit in the snow up the Mountaineer's Route. During the summer, this route is a scramble up a rocky chute filled with loose rock. For our trip, most of the route was snow. While distance-wise this is the shortest route to the summit, only 4 miles are so, there is no real trail and has a couple of significant obstacles, the first is the "ledges", the second is the last 400' to the summit ridge.
We started around 9:30 am from the trailhead after getting our permit in Lone Pine at 8am. This late start allowed the snow to soften, so the progress was pretty slow. We reached the ledges around 11am. The ledges is a route to bypass an area that the canyon is restricted and choked with willows. They require some class 3 scrambling and walking narrow ledges with significant exposure.
After clearing the ledges, we moved up the canyon on snow to Lower Boy Scout Lake. After a lunch break, we put crampons on and headed up to Upper Boy Scout Lake. We debated on stopping there because it was probably the last spot with water. Decided to press on to Iceberg Lake at the base of Mt Whitney. Because of the soft snow, we ended up camping short of Iceberg.
The next morning was expected to have a storm come in, but the morning dawned clear and windless. Decided to start to the summit, instead of moving camp higher. Started up the chute to Notch around 9am, reaching the Notch near noon. The next leg is the last 400' vertical ft to the summit which is quite steep. Needed to do some class 3 scrambling before the last stretch of snow at 50 degree slope. As we reached the summit it started to snow, but clouds were above us, so the view was still great. Decided hustle off the summit in case the weather got worse.
We belayed the first 150 ft off the summit for safety, then made our way back to camp for a very windy evening.
The GPS turned itself off for the last leg back to the car.
Wonderful trip, had the summit all to ourselves (only group on the route and only ones to summit on Friday the 13th.).
This was a great trip to Mt Whitney summit in the snow up the Mountaineer's Route. During the summer, this route is a scramble up a rocky chute filled with loose rock. For our trip, most of the route was snow. While distance-wise this is the shortest route to the summit, only 4 miles are so, there is no real trail and has a couple of significant obstacles, the first is the "ledges", the second is the last 400' to the summit ridge.
We started around 9:30 am from the trailhead after getting our permit in Lone Pine at 8am. This late start allowed the snow to soften, so the progress was pretty slow. We reached the ledges around 11am. The ledges is a route to bypass an area that the canyon is restricted and choked with willows. They require some class 3 scrambling and walking narrow ledges with significant exposure.
After clearing the ledges, we moved up the canyon on snow to Lower Boy Scout Lake. After a lunch break, we put crampons on and headed up to Upper Boy Scout Lake. We debated on stopping there because it was probably the last spot with water. Decided to press on to Iceberg Lake at the base of Mt Whitney. Because of the soft snow, we ended up camping short of Iceberg.
The next morning was expected to have a storm come in, but the morning dawned clear and windless. Decided to start to the summit, instead of moving camp higher. Started up the chute to Notch around 9am, reaching the Notch near noon. The next leg is the last 400' vertical ft to the summit which is quite steep. Needed to do some class 3 scrambling before the last stretch of snow at 50 degree slope. As we reached the summit it started to snow, but clouds were above us, so the view was still great. Decided hustle off the summit in case the weather got worse.
We belayed the first 150 ft off the summit for safety, then made our way back to camp for a very windy evening.
The GPS turned itself off for the last leg back to the car.
Wonderful trip, had the summit all to ourselves (only group on the route and only ones to summit on Friday the 13th.).
Tips:
First trick is get a permit. There are only 10 people per day on the North Lone Pine Creek trailhead. We started during the week before the peak season started.
We brought rope and snow pickets which was helpful for belaying off the summit.
While a short distance, two camping nights made this a very pleasant hike.
First trick is get a permit. There are only 10 people per day on the North Lone Pine Creek trailhead. We started during the week before the peak season started.
We brought rope and snow pickets which was helpful for belaying off the summit.
While a short distance, two camping nights made this a very pleasant hike.
Tags:
whitney, Mountaineers Route, lone pine
whitney, Mountaineers Route, lone pine
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