Damn, it's getting really boring waiting for the trails to thaw, but found this story from Scotland's Ben Nevis. Seemed similar to stories we've read from Mt. Whitney:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-ne...tupid-1-2879898Ben Nevis, while 10,000 lower in altitude than Whitney, has it's own special hazards; not to mention that it's a 4,000 foot day hike/climb. Northern Scotland is about the same latitude has Nova Scotia, Canada...cold and wet.