Mt Whitney Webcam
Mt Williamson Webcam
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 155 guests, and 16 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hiking in July this year
#49517 04/02/17 07:35 AM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3
D
OP Offline
D
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3
Hi Everyone, I have a permit for July 11, 2017, for Mt Whitney and would like to know what I should expect due to the extreme snow this year. Will this day hike require crampons and an ice axe at this time? I'm coming across the country from TN for this hike so I would just like to be prepared. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Hiking in July this year
DTidrick #49518 04/02/17 09:05 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 908
Likes: 2
B
Offline
B
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 908
Likes: 2
Yes, there is a lot of snow up there, and might be around in July. I would be pleasantly surprised it the switchbacks or summit ridge are completely snow-free this July. Whatever snow is left will be frozen solid over night at that altitude. It would be a good idea to bring ice-axe and crampons just in case the conditions warrant it.

During a past heavy snow season we experienced ten feet of snow at the 12,000 elevation, in mid-June. This year exceeds previous records.

Re: Hiking in July this year
Bob West #49519 04/02/17 11:07 AM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3
D
OP Offline
D
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3
Hi Bob, Thank you for the information. That is what I needed to know. Any additional information is welcome!

Re: Hiking in July this year
DTidrick #49520 04/02/17 04:53 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 6
H
Offline
H
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 6
This year's snow pack is similar if not more than the last big snow year of 2011

This picture is of Whitney summit spur trail Aug 7, 2011. There were areas to go around or through ice/packed snow/snowcups. When you are there in July of this year I would expect more.


Re: Hiking in July this year
Harvey Lankford #49527 04/03/17 05:45 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3
D
OP Offline
D
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3
Hi Harvey,
Thank you for the Pic. Looks like this will be fun :-)

Re: Hiking in July this year
Bob West #49559 04/10/17 12:33 PM
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 40
O
Offline
O
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 40
You would need an ice axe on the Main Trail? Would microspikes not be sufficient versus crampons?

Re: Hiking in July this year
over1812 #49565 04/11/17 01:12 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
You don't need an ice axe if the switchbacks are being used rather than the "chute" (slope west of the switchbacks).


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4
(Release build 20200307)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.4.33 Page Time: 0.034s Queries: 28 (0.029s) Memory: 0.6006 MB (Peak: 0.6652 MB) Data Comp: Off Server Time: 2024-03-28 17:01:31 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS