Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Current Eastern Sierra conditons

Latest from USFS on some local conditions:

https://www.facebook.com/inyonf/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE

It is still looking pretty darn snowy in the backcountry. I walked part-way up the Bishop Pass trail this morning; encountered snow banks over 10 feet high...and that was without a mile of the trailhead. A handful of hikers are going up there, but mostly on skis or snowshoes. And yes, in the early morning CRAMPONS and ICE-AXES are necessary on the steeper slopes.

Local packer friends think it will not be possible for stock to cross the high passes until late August or early September, at best. This means that hikers need to be very well prepared and careful. We have several thru hikers staying in Bishop just now, who had to bail out, because of deep snow.

I did the same trail this weekend on Sunday and found the conditions to be pretty tough, only made it to Long lake which was mostly frozen still. Did see a couple pushing forward using spikes. Hopefully they're safe.