Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Current Conditions Mountaineers Route

Any recent experiences on the mountaineers route? Is there still a lot of snow in it?

Recent reports say the final 400' (above the notch) can all be climbed without touching snow or ice.

And from the looks of the web cams, most of the chute below the notch is dry too. Summer is finally here -- leave the crampons and ice axes home.

Thanks Steve! Encouraging news.

I am planning to climb Mt Whitney via Mountaineers route on 07/17 weekend.

Does anyone have any latest pictures / trip reports ?

I am assuming crampons and ice axe wont be required. I ll get my climbing rope though since i have 3 other folks with me who might not be that comfortable with exposure at the ledges / notch.

any comments will be greatly appreciated

Nova, there's a report in the Current Conditions thread here:

http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/topics/5855/Current_Conditions_Mt_Whitney_#Post5855

where Aubrey went up the MR and down the main trail. It is an excellent report and includes pictures.

You won't need your ice axe or crampons. If your friends need a rope on the ledges, they have no business going any higher.

And the final 400 above the Notch isn't very difficult third class. If these people have any climbing abilities at all, you won't need that rope.

Hi Steve

Thanks for your reply ! Aubrey's trip report is very detailed and will help me plan my trip.

Actually I do understand your point that if my friends have difficulty on Eberbacher Ledges then we as a group should not push any further ...so I am keeping that decision for the last minute ... if by looking at the ledges my friends are uncomfortable then i ll head back and go via the Main Trail. Turning back at ledges will be better than reaching the notch and finding out that we are not up to it...

One quick question .. I have seen lots of details / pictures for route from LBSL to UBSL ... but not much about UBSL to Iceberg lake ... is there any link that would provide me more details on this part ?

Again thanks for your response ..

Regards
Nova

> One quick question .. I have seen lots of details / pictures for route from LBSL to UBSL ... but not much about UBSL to Iceberg lake ... is there any link that would provide me more details on this part ?

Click on the Orientation Notes link (above left), and in the first paragraph click on Mountaineer's Route info links within... In that list of links, there is one with topo maps showing the approximate route.

From Upper Boy Scout Lake, you head due south a quarter mile, climbing into the Whitney drainage. Curve around to the west, and stay pretty low until you are well past the dark colored "seep" where many people get impatient and try to climb. There is a much easier path leading to Iceberg Lake up through the talus to the west of the seep. The seep is an area of blocky granite shelves, made black by the water seeping out of its cracks. The water and the height of the shelves make for some unpleasant third class climbing.

Thanks Steve

Once I am done with my hike i will post the route details / updates.

enjoy
Nova