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Conditions Mt Whitney Trail, 2017
Steve C #49041 01/02/17 10:40 AM
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        Mt Whitney Trail Conditions -- 2017

The posts in this threads were moved from the main Current Conditions thread for trail reports during 2017. (Posts are moved periodically after they no longer represent current conditions.)

Link to: Whitney Main Trail Conditions, 2018, Old

Previous years:
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2016
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2015
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2014
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2013
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2012
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2011

Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49143 01/27/17 11:26 PM
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Posted on Instagram by lizsb90 on Jan 1, 2017.

Notice the spindrift of the Whitney summit!







Doug from the Whitney Portal Store shared pictures here.

Here's a picture of the trail head structure. Jan 24, 2017.




And the store:



Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49144 01/27/17 11:31 PM
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Oh, and Whitney Portal is ONLY accessible on foot, until sometime in spring when they can clear this massive rockslide.


Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49256 02/19/17 12:59 PM
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This picture taken Friday, Feb 17, 2017, posted on Facebook by Valentino I.

He hiked up Whitney Portal Road past the rockslide.


Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2017 (Out-of-Date)
#49257 02/19/17 01:20 PM
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The posts below have been moved from the main Current Conditions thread for trail reports during 2016. (Posts are moved periodically after they no longer represent current conditions.)

Previous years:
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2016
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2015
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2014
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2013
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2012
    Whitney Main Trail Conditions 2011

Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49258 02/20/17 06:09 PM
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Can anyone relate this to the last big snow year (2011)?

Looking at the snowplot, it looks to be on an all time curve
2017 Snowplot

Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Harvey Lankford #49259 02/20/17 06:34 PM
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Whitney area is not getting as hard hit as Tahoe, but Donner is forecast to get 40" new snow tonight. And there are more storms coming.
San Francisco achieved their normal annual total yesterday.
Mammoth has already eclipsed last year by 100", and last year was a "good" year.

Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49262 02/20/17 11:28 PM
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Recent pictures -- from the Mountaineers Route (North Fork Lone Pine Creek). Most people don't use the Main Trail in winter.

This posted on Instagram by elevatedtv
Caption: Lower Boy Scout Lake
[/img]

Also from "elevatedtv", Mt Whitney, from below Lower Boy Scout Lake. "4-6ft base above 10k feet"

Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49263 02/20/17 11:38 PM
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Posted on Instagram on Feb 14, 2017, by monkeyonamountain

"Here's the moon setting over the Mount Whitney Massif this morning. This was about 20 minutes before sunrise. Love the feeling of touring under the stars. Stepping up towards the moon feels super surreal. Lucky to be out there with friends and the pow skiing was all time!"


Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49266 02/21/17 09:24 AM
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Ugh! Beautiful shots!

I can't wait until next winter once I'm out of school, I can finally get back out.


@jjoshuagregory (Instagram) for mainly landscape and mountain pics
Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49267 02/21/17 10:06 AM
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That picture from LBSL is absolutely gorgeous!

Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49359 03/10/17 09:07 AM
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Here's a picture posted March 9, on Instagram by pkmcampbell

It is taken looking up from Lower Boy Scout Lake on the North Fork Lone Pine Creek (the Mountaineers Route). The skier is descending over a huge boulder field that requires careful navigation in the summer!

Caption: "Last earned turns of the season coming down from Mt Whitney"





Another pic posted by pkmcampbell:
"Finally reached the top of Mt Whitney. Fantastic cap to the skimo season with @mountain_doc"

Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49477 03/27/17 11:18 AM
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Posted on FB by Chris Simpson

Quote:
Pickin's are great on Whitney at the moment. Snow coverage from Meysan Lakes. North Fork was 90% filled in which was very nice. Deep consolidated snow all the way up to the coulior. Was able to glissade 80% of the mountain! Last push was in great shape. No pro used but a few nice rap stations in place. Take advantage of the conditions while they last.


This is a picture from the Mountaineer's Route approach, a little ways above (and south of) Upper Boy Scout Lake. It is NOT part of the Main Mt. Whitney Trail, which is on the other side of the ridge to the south (left side of picture).


Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49479 03/27/17 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted By: Steve C

This is a picture from the Mountaineer's Route approach. It is NOT part of the Main Mt. Whitney Trail, which is on the other side of the ridge to the south (left side of picture).

Is this pic just below Iceberg Lake?

Last edited by RenoFrank; 03/27/17 06:54 PM.
Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
RenoFrank #49486 03/28/17 09:15 AM
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Originally Posted By: RenoFrank
Is this pic just below Iceberg Lake?

Yes

Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49516 04/01/17 11:58 PM
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The Whitney Portal Road is now "soft closed" -- that is the locked gate is open, but the Road Closed sign is up. That leaves it up to the driver to decide whether or not to pass the sign. If you do go, you are taking on all the risk -- it gets expensive if your car gets stuck up there. If any new snow falls, or fresh rockfall appears, it could be many days before it is removed.

However, current reports show that you can drive up to the snow line -- almost to Whitney Portal.

Here's a picture from Egor G on Facebook, posted April 3, showing cars parked along the road near Whitney Portal:


Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49525 04/03/17 09:35 AM
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Pictures from Igor G on Facebook, posted Apr 4. (Again, NOT the Main Trail, but the Mountaineers Route)

Pictures caption: "Whitney via the mountaineers route. Great snow conditions, if not perfect! An overnight at the iceberg lake. Highly recommended!"

This is a view of the "Final 400" section of the Mountaineer's Route -- not the Main Trail.


Topping out:


Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49699 04/27/17 07:13 PM
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Found this video on YouTube from 4/23/17 (credit Brandon Riza). Incredible snow at LBSL!



Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49720 05/01/17 02:15 PM
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climbed mountaineer's route 4/28 and 4/29. summary follows.

road is easily driveable all the way to the portal by any vehicle. bathrooms open. water spigots not running. Portal store was closed. Trail was snow free until the north fork of Lone Pine Creek junction. There appeared to be relatively continuous snow on the main trail after that point.

on the MR: highest accessible liquid water was at lower boy scout lake. good snow coverage from about 9400 all the way to the summit. the area just below the recent slide looks like it could be suspect as the sun angle gets higher and there are some warm days. we noticed some wet/loose slides in the basin around iceberg lake that slid sometime between 8am and 1pm on 4/29. a few areas to be careful of during the warmest parts of the day

on the final 400 there is one section of exposed rock that is somewhat tricky to manage. a larg-ish party was belaying through this section. we did it unprotected but the rope seems useful for less confident parties. above that rock section it is very steep but the snow conditions were firm and there were an abundance of nicely kicked steps leading to the plateau

THE SUMMIT HUT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY FULL OF SNOW. the door has become detached. do not count on getting much shelter inside of the hut (could fit 2 people max)

no marmots spotted on our trip. main trail appeared passable but I can not say for sure


Re: Current Conditions: Mt Whitney Trail
Steve C #49721 05/01/17 02:20 PM
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Gallery showing the conditions on the Main Trail as of April 30 2017


(1) On the main trail, deep snow starts from the third intersection of the trail with Lone Pine Creek. From there, the tracks go straight up Lone Pine Creek to Outpost Camp - a nice shortcut.

(2) Trail crest was about 50% snow free. There were about 3 sketchy sections (15ft each) where there was both snow and a steep cliff.

(3) We didn't use our snowshoes. The winter trail shortcuts were steep, so we ended up using crampons the whole time.

(4) Mirror lake was the last obvious spot to get water. You might be lucky and find a puddle at trail camp - but I would plan on melting snow in case you don't.

(5) While outpost camp was mostly covered with snow, there were some nice snow-free sites at Trail camp.


Sunrise on the chute is magical:

Last edited by Philippe; 05/01/17 04:56 PM.
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