Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Avalanche Risk?

Hi All,

As you may have seen, I'm attempting to summit Mt. Whitney with my friend May 7-8.

Does anyone know the chances of an avalanche? We're heading up the Main Trail. I'm having trouble finding information on the internet.

Thanks!

E

I am no expert, but my understanding is that it takes considerable snow in different layers, whereas what we have on the MT, especially in the chute, is consolidated snow, and not all that much of it. I think it is not an issue, but mainly chiming in to get the discussion started.

This link might give you some of the information you need:

http://www.esavalanche.org/

It really doesn't take much snow-fall to create an avalanche if the conditions are right.

For instance...I was part of a SAR team that recovered the body of a ski instructor at Mammoth Mtn., in Cornice Bowl. It had snowed about 10 inches on a 4 inch hard-pack base, and as he was walking across the top of the bowl, it avalanched, carrying him down slope about 500 feet. We found his dead body, five hours later, under about 3 feet of newly consolidated snow near the bottom of the bowl.

The main trail shouldn't be much of a risk at all, if you follow the switch-backs and avoid the snow-filled chute. If it doesn't snow again in the next week - no problems.

Thanks for the tip (horrible story though)! Of course ... it snowed yesterday/today and I think more snow is in the forecast