Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports Whitney Dayhike to Trail Camp, May 7, 2011

After obtaining a permit at the Lone Pine Visitor Center Saturday morning (they open at 8AM sharp) we drove up to the Portal, got our gear together, and after a visiting with Doug, headed up the trail at 9AM with the objective of Trail Camp. We used the "old" trail for the first mile or so, and made the left a bit above the junction with the North Fork. It was sunny day, and a bit warm, and the temps in the valleys have been in the upper 80's all week. The trail was clear and dry until about 9,300', about 2 miles from the start, where we began to encounter snow on a regular basis and also the remains of a small avalanche which appeared to have occurred a month or so before, based upon the discoloration of broken branches and trees - they'd been exposed to sunlight for awhile. One tree, about 10" in diameter, had been cut from the trail. The debris field was rather short, and a bit beyond this point we decided to head straight up the slope, aiming for the area between the rock walls on either side of the valley. The log bridges below Lone Pine Lake are still mostly snow-covered, and by staying on the right of the brook we were able to find snow bridges across it, and headed up the left side of the drainage. At this point we donned crampons. Soon we emerged on the far end of Bighorn Meadow, finding the snow mostly firm, punching through only occasionally. We stopped to refill water containers, and then headed for the slope on the right above Outpost Camp. We could see hikers on the left side of the valley, above the cascades, but decided the traverse above this area had a bit higher pucker factor than the group wanted to deal with. We soon found ourselves at Mirror Lake (still frozen except near the outlet and the last source of open water), ate lunch, and decided upon a turn-around time of 3:30PM, based upon a similar hike a year earlier. We more or less followed the summer route to the top of this ridge, and found the snow here rather punky - if you broke thru the top foot or so, the snow underneath had a high air content. My educated guess is that, due to the large amount of exposed rock on this slope, that these released heat into the evening, slowly creating voids underneath the surface, making the snow less dense. After a bit, we managed the top of ridge, finding it completely melted off, and in a few hundred yards we walked straight out onto a well-consolidated snow field, in the approximate location of Trailside Meadow. From here we trudged slowly straight up the slopes, some steeper than others, and arrived near Consultation Lake about 2:30PM. Two of our group stayed by the lake (still well-frozen) while two of us continued on to Trail Camp, where we took lots of pictures before heading back at 3:35PM. We could see 3 hikers working their way up the slope below Trail Crest, and there appeared to be a defined track up the slope. We'd talked with Mark and his party (So.Baymark) just below Trail Camp, and he'd hiked up this slope until about where you "turn the corner", about 1/3 of the way to Trail Crest.

Up to this point, we'd found the snow soft, sinking maybe and inch or two into the surface, with only occasionally postholing above 11,000'. However, as we made our down the ridge towards Mirror Lake, we frequently postholed until we crossed the flats at Bighorn Park and were back in the shade of the drainage above Lone Pine Lake. At this point we intersected Mark and his group and more or less hiked back to the Portal with them and a fellow who'd hiked to Trail Crest and skied down. We arrived back at the Portal at 6:30PM and all declared it had been a very fine day in the mountains.

In comparing this day to a similar hike done last May 12, my impression is that snow levels and conditions were very similar to last year. Last year the temps had been a bit lower, so the surface was firmer with less postholing, but overall, the conditions were very similar. Trail Camp still had several feet of snow, and for those comfortable with snow travel doing Whitney via the Main Trail is probably easier than when conditions are dry and sandy.

Thanks for the report, Kevin. Please let us know if you get any pictures posted.

Steve - These are Robin's - much better than mine -

http://ranboze.smugmug.com/Sierra-Adventures/Trail-Camp-12050-May-7-2011/16953027_GmhkSR#P-1-10

Thanks for the link, Kevin. Those ARE nice. They give a good idea of the current trail conditions.

Before the hike, my expectation was that we'd find snow at, or slightly above, the Portal. That wasn't the case at all, as it was much higher. Based on my experience, I'd say the current snow levels are pretty average, and Doug made a comment in a post that was similar. If the melt continues at the current rate, people who have permits in late May and June can probably expect to find the same conditions as in previous years.

This may not hold true for areas further north, however, so it it would wise to keep an eye out for trip reports.

Nice TR Kevin - lots of good info for anyone heading up in the near future!

See any marmots at TC this early?

It's still too early, Gary - still a few feet of snow at TC.

Maybe someone who knows more about marmots than I do can chime in here (am a Vermonter and there aren't any there, just groundhogs/woodchucks) but I think marmots are sensitive to cold and hibernate early. When I'm up in Cottonwood in late fall, before the snows come - once it's gets below freezing regularly at night, I never see them again. And there are LOTS of them in those meadows by the various lakes.

I have seen a marmot climb out of a hole on the snow -- at a local ski area.

But at Trail Camp, there surely isn't any food material available, at least above the snow, so they probably stay in their den.

Hi Kevin - We ran into your group on the way up. I recognize the dog...and of course the people as well . It was nice to chat with your group. Glad you had a great day - love the photos. Our day turned out differently, it's obvious in the mountains, but I'll say so anyway - what a difference a day makes!