Thanks for the information guys. Sounds like standard shoulder-season mountain weather... could be like late summer or could be like mid-winter. I'll probably do what saltydog recommended and bring a wide range of gear then make selections at the trailhead. This is what we typically do for winter climbing in the Whites, where I would say the chances of any type of weather window are about 50% or less. We have always had much more luck with predictable weather climbing Rainier, at least in the spring and summer, so I was kind of hoping that the Sierras had similar predictable weather patterns and I could pack light for my flight.
No worries though. We will bring everything, check on conditions before we leave PA, and if weather/conditions are too sketchy we may just go for the Whitney Trail instead, or worst case, just do some roadside sightseeing like normal tourists.
