Have permits for NFLPC early September. Thinking of spending first night at UBSL, then hitting Russell, second night at Ice Berg, then up the col to Whitney. Bivy just off the summit, then hit Muir on way down the main trail. Any thoughts? Any beta on the snow patch just south west of the Whitney summit, as that would be our source of water for the Whitney bivy.
Thanks!
You will have a tough time finding a spot to put your bivy at the notch. I don't recall seeing any smooth level places.
It is only half an hour to the top from the notch, so just go there. If the weather is bad, you could stay inside the hut, otherwise there are plenty of spots there to sleep under the stars.
And for that matter, I'd camp at LBSL both nights 1 & 2. It just isn't that far to the summit from Iceberg. And do take water from Iceberg. If you start after noon, you could probably get by with 3 liters. It's several hundred ft. elevation drop down to that snow patch, so it seems easier to carry the 6 lbs all the way from 12.5k rather than dropping and re-climbing 400' with your entire body's weight. ;-)
