Mt Whitney Webcam
Mt Williamson Webcam
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 121 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
West side approach on July 13 with Boy Scouts
#55553 06/26/19 10:06 PM
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 4
H
OP Offline
H
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 4
I plan on attempting Whitney on July 13 from Guitar Lake with some very experienced Scouts/Scout sibling (two have over 1000 miles hiked in Boy Scouts, all can hike 30 to 50 miles/day). I will have 4 boys and one girl eager to summit, but it is my responsibility to ensure we do not take excessive risk.

If the route requires more than micro spikes we will be skipping our summit attempt.

What equipment is expected to be necessary for a summit of Whitney on July 13? Is it likely to require more than micro spikes? Will micro spikes be necessary?

Thanks

Re: West side approach on July 13 with Boy Scouts
Heuschele #55554 06/26/19 10:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
The JMT along the crest is already settling down, and people are saying there are only a few dicey spots. By mid-July, the only snow left will be the patch below the summit hut, and that doesn't have any exposure. Your scouts will be safe.

Are you hiking back to the west, or exiting the Main Trail?

Good luck! It sounds like quite the experienced group.

Re: West side approach on July 13 with Boy Scouts
Heuschele #55561 06/27/19 11:41 AM
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
Offline
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
30 to 50 miles a day? With a pack? 0.o


@terraelise anything (fb, ig, etc.)
Re: West side approach on July 13 with Boy Scouts
Heuschele #55567 06/27/19 05:39 PM
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 4
H
OP Offline
H
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 4
As for the exit ...

We are going all the way to Yosemite Valley at a somewhat casual pace (not due to the boys, due to the 2 adults - mostly the other adult :=).

Last time the boys did this trip in 14 days but we are taking 22 days this time (including a layover day at Vermillion/Mono Hot Springs).

Last Sunday we did San G from South Fork TH (~22 miles, 4700' gain). One boy the next morning ran 7 miles.

It is a harder day than any we have planned for this trip but our packs will be heavier on this backpack trip. Especially the two opening stretches (Horseshoe Meadow to Bubbs Creek, Bubbs Creek to Vermillion) the packs will be heavier as the resupply points are spread out.

One boy plans to bring a ukulele (he is also the one with ~1500 miles with the troop so I have zero concerns).

Entry July 11, Whitney July 13.

Re: West side approach on July 13 with Boy Scouts
Heuschele #55568 06/27/19 05:42 PM
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 4
H
OP Offline
H
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 4
So the crest is expected to be clear. What about the approach from Guitar Lake? Is it also expected to be clear? Leave the micro spikes?

Re: West side approach on July 13 with Boy Scouts
Heuschele #55871 08/02/19 06:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 4
H
OP Offline
H
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 4
We finished the JMT yesterday starting at Horseshoe Meadow on July 11 and had 2 slack days at VVR (mostly spent at Mono Hot Springs). I had to evict the other adult at Taboose Pass (too slow, we would have run out of food). Four Scouts completed the entire hike and one Scout exited with their parent and came back in (missed around 50 miles).

- Some of the Southern Passes had some challenges. Muir Pass had close to 6 miles of snow (1/3 South side, 2/3 North Side)
- Mosquitos were bad in Southern section.
- Route to Whitney did not reflect a high snow year. It was similar to my other 3 Whitney summits.
- 3 Scouts did Mt Muir.
- Lots of Yahoos in Yosemite area.
- I think they need to provide permits for the Mist trail. Even on a Thursday the crowds exceeded safe capacity.
- Many of the North bound JMT hikers bailed out. Most of the PCT hikers were making slow progress in the Southern section of JMT.
- Special thanks to Pebbles who lent us his ice ax.

It was an experience that I will never forget.

Re: West side approach on July 13 with Boy Scouts
Heuschele #55872 08/02/19 07:19 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 369
Likes: 13
Offline
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 369
Likes: 13
Congrats on the achievement!!

I may be doing the whole JMT next year (done the start, end, and a little bit in the middle (about a yard near Mammoth lakes smile )).


Originally Posted By: Heuschele

- I think they need to provide permits for the Mist trail. Even on a Thursday the crowds exceeded safe capacity.


I agree it can get pretty crowded. Maybe they should make it one way in the peak summer season.

Last edited by WanderingJim; 08/02/19 07:24 PM.

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: 0.033s Queries: 28 (0.024s) Memory: 0.6039 MB (Peak: 0.6705 MB) Data Comp: Off Server Time: 2024-03-28 13:44:38 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS