Hello friends:

I'll be with a group of 7 going on May 30th to Whitney, hiking the main trail. None of us have done Whitney and we don't know if we should plan to have crampons, poles, or an ice axe. If anything, we'd like to only bring poles. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

CKC, in a week, I am pretty sure you and your group can make it just fine with only hiking poles. This year is just as lean as last year for snow levels, and last year about this time, people started using the trail, with a little caution required in the section with the cables.

Watch for trip reports in the next week, and that should give you the best info.

If you are camping at Trail Camp, get up early and start hiking as soon as the sun hits the snow. That should soften it for good footing, and also give you enough time to get back down the switchbacks before the shadow of the crest blocks the sun and the snow ices up again (2-3 PM).

Probably by then it will be clear, and it's an uncomplicated hike. But in general, some VERY FIRM advice, however, on snow/ice: It is extremely unwise to go up with an axe and crampons without having trained with them. Ice axe arrest, proper positioning and use of the axe, roping, etc. are skills that need practice. I can't say this firmly enough. Equipment does not save you; training does.