Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Hiking Whitney w/ Ice & Snow

(Cross-posted from the other Whitney forum, so apologies if this is a repeat)

Hi everyone,

We (group of 2) have a day permit to hike Whitney this weekend, and we were hoping someone could provide some insight into conditions. We both have extensive high-altitude experience (Kilimanjaro, Fuji, etc.) but very limited experience hiking in icy/snowy conditions.

How much does the ice/snow slow you down? We both hike at a fairly rapid pace (have budgeted 6-7 hours for this hike), but aren't sure how this might be affected by winter conditions and crampons. Also perhaps worth noting, neither of us have used ice axes before.

Thank you very much in advance to anyone willing to chime in!

Hi Joanna,

Current conditions in the Whitney area have deep snow above 11,000, with avalanche (wet slab) hazard. Hiking during the early morning hours might work with just hiking boots, but by afternoons the snow will be soft. You might find yourselves knee deep or worse. Yes, that will really slow you down.

If you have never used ice axes before, this is probably not the best place to learn on your own, given the current conditions.

Well, give it a go and see if you can handle the present conditions. A "after-action" report from you would be appreciated by others. Stay safe.

Hi Joanna, if you plan on hiking 6-7 hours, you might make it to Trail Camp, a flat area at 12,500' elevation. For most people in these conditions, they take 12-18 hours for the round trip.

If you are only going to Trail Camp, you wouldn't need the ice axe. But you will get plenty of experience tramping over lots of snow.

You could carry the ice axe, though, and have a try with using it. Whitney is not usually extreme when it comes to needing an ice axe, so if you take one along, take a break and try it out on some steep spots -- just for fun.

There are some links to ice axe use in the first post in the "Reference" forum.

Thank you for the replies!

I think at this point we are probably leaning against it... due to logistical constraints, we won't be able to start hiking until 6 a.m. which, from what I've read, seems to be cutting it very close. It's a shame because we have our tickets/hotels booked and everything, and were really looking forward to the hike. But we would rather come back and tackle it some other time rather than risk high odds of not making it to the summit.

Does anyone have any recommendations for high-altitude peaks nearby (or within driving distance from LA) that are slightly less technical or snowy? We're very disappointed, but obviously safety comes first.

Well, I think you should go ahead and drive up there and hike up -- at least several hours. Get up to the snow, check out the terrain. The experience will help you for the next time you come.