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Conditions on The Trail
#17174 08/04/11 09:40 AM
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My group is summiting Whitney on Monday and we are prepared for the water crossings as follows:

1. We are taking the old trail past the first water crossing-we are hoping to get get direction at the Store on how to access the old trail and when to move to the new trail.

2. We have "water" shoes for the log crossing section - Any update on whether the logs are in place or will be in place by Monday? I would like to avoid carrying extra unnecessary gear.

Otherwise, the weather is going to be nice and we are all looking forward to a much better experience than many hikers encountered last weekend. I always overpack (by adding extra dry clothes, space blankets, hand warmers, etc, however, I do not feel like I am over doing it now. In fact, I feel that I am prepared for worst case conditions.

Thank you.

Re: Conditions on The Trail
SoCalHiker #17180 08/04/11 10:17 AM
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I posted information on locating the old trail on this thread:
http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/topics/15657/Old_Trail_Trailhead#Post15657

There are photos of the rock to look for and arrows to point the way. Once you go behind the rock, you will see the trail very clearly.

Re: Conditions on The Trail
tdtz #17183 08/04/11 10:31 AM
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My G/F and I are planning to summit on Monday as well (the 8th). We are planning on getting an early start. What is your group's plan? Feel free to send me a PM.

-Mark

Re: Conditions on The Trail
tdtz #17185 08/04/11 10:44 AM
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Thank you.

We are starting our ascent between 3-4am. Hopefully, there will be light by the time we reach this section and we can easily identify the rock.

Re: Conditions on The Trail
SoCalHiker #17186 08/04/11 10:48 AM
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Unless I'm misreading something, the big rock is the beginning of the old trail (which is only less than one-tenth of a mile from the beginning of the current trail), and is not a section within the trail. If you are beginning your hike at 3-4am, then you will be at the big rock at 3-4am.

The big rock is the largest rock at the apex of the circle of the paved road at road's end as it circles back to head out again. Once you find the big rock, you enter the old trail by going around the left end of the rock. There is no obvious "trailhead" that begins right at the paved road; but once you are around the left end of the rock (a few yards off the road), you should see the path clearly as it goes along the back side of the big rock before switchbacking endlessly and steeply up the hill.

CaT


If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracle of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it.
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Re: Conditions on The Trail
mworkma2 #17187 08/04/11 10:51 AM
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The general plan is to get an early start, between 3am-4am, take our time ascending, avoid the first water crossing, stay hydrated, wear appropriate clothing with extra layers in pack, apply DEET as necessary, avoid getting shoes wet and getting plenty of rest leading up to Monday.

Re: Conditions on The Trail
CaT #17188 08/04/11 10:53 AM
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Thanks, CaT. I did not take a close look at the map and at first glance it appeared to be a specific marker along the trail.

Re: Conditions on The Trail
SoCalHiker #17189 08/04/11 10:57 AM
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Maybe we'll see you there. I think we are going to begin our ascent around 2AM. We are planning to do the first few miles of the hike on Sunday during the day (out and back), so hopefully we'll get the water crossing/old trail aspect figured out then.

Re: Conditions on The Trail
SoCalHiker #17190 08/04/11 11:00 AM
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Sorry - no marker for the start of the old trail; you just have to know where it is.

CaT


If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracle of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it.
- Lyndon Johnson, on signing the Wilderness Act into law (1964)
Re: Conditions on The Trail
CaT #17202 08/04/11 05:37 PM
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I took the old trail a few weeks back. Here's something I would have found helpful.

You pass the store and cross a bridge. There is a big rock to your right just after you cross the bridge. THAT IS NOT THE RIGHT ROCK. Instead, the correct rock is the EVEN BIGGER ROCK that is ahead of you and to your right after you cross the bridge. Go to that rock, and toward the left of it you will see a very clear well-defined, trail. There is nothing ambiguous at all about it -- it is a very well worn trail.

I say this because, initially, I went to the first rock, and found myself bushwacking on the faint remnants of what appeared to be a trail, but was not. If you are not sure you are on a trail, then you chose the wrong rock.

Re: Conditions on The Trail
Akichow #17205 08/04/11 06:23 PM
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Here is the rock at the beginning of the old trail



Photo curtesy of Tom D.


The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Conditions on The Trail
Bee #17207 08/04/11 07:40 PM
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Agreed that this picture is a great tool. But it is the picture that I had in my mind when I chose the wrong (first) rock (sigh). The correct rock is bigger in real life than it looks in this picture.

Go forth to the second rock!

Re: Conditions on The Trail
Akichow #17208 08/04/11 08:16 PM
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Thanks Bee and Tom for the great shot. Gary and family and I used the old trail. Seems like it's becoming the "vogue" thing to do........hmmmmmm Gee, now I'll have to stop using it.


I gotta tell you though, as Tom found out. All those rocks look the same at 3:00 in the morning :-)


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Re: Conditions on The Trail
quillansculpture #17211 08/04/11 09:39 PM
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If I get a whitney permit tomorrow, I am going to use the same "shortcut" that I used in June...without the diversion off toward Lone Pine Creek. I've been studying it even more I like the directness of the route. Part of what I am trying to do is eliminating as many switchbacks as possible. The reason for this is my kid gets bored on switchbacks. I need to have a more exciting route for him if he is going to join me on these hikes.

But it being Friday, I am not going to plan on whitney.

Re: Conditions on The Trail
tdtz #17223 08/05/11 07:52 AM
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How do you get back on the main Whitney Trail once we get past the water crossing?

Re: Conditions on The Trail
SoCalHiker #17225 08/05/11 08:14 AM
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SoCal Hiker, the "old" trail referred to here joins the Main Whitney Trail at about 20 paces "downhill" of the John Muir Wilderness sign. Going up, you'll hit the main trail and turn left to continue ascending. Coming down, once you see the JM Wilderness sign continue about 20 paces and you'll see the trail on your right. If you come to the rock-hop crossing of the North Fork, you've gone too far and need to retreat a few dozen yards.

There are no signs or markers at any point for this trail, but once you've seen it joining the main trail on your way up you'll have no trouble identifying it on the descent.

Re: Conditions on The Trail
SoCalHiker #17227 08/05/11 08:21 AM
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If you take the old trail, you end up ON the Main Whitney Trail. The John Muir sign will basically be right in front of you. So...... at the top of the old trail, make a left.

Please read my new thread. "What's the big deal about the Old Trail"


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Re: Conditions on The Trail
quillansculpture #17229 08/05/11 08:27 AM
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Now for the painfully simplistic query:

If the Old Trail is so useful under current conditions, why do they not just mark its entrance and exit?

(I am sure that "liability" will be somewhere in the answer)


The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Conditions on The Trail
quillansculpture #17230 08/05/11 08:27 AM
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Great information. Thank you, all.

We will hopefully be able to hike up on Sunday and familiarize ourself with this area so we know what we are doing on Monday. Now, if there was only an alternate route to get around the log crossing, the hike would be a completely dry experience.

Re: Conditions on The Trail
SoCalHiker #17233 08/05/11 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted By: SoCalHiker
... Now, if there was only an alternate route to get around the log crossing, the hike would be a completely dry experience.


Regarding the Log Crossing... Read this. (Last post in the Current Condions thread.)

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