Welcome, guest [login | register]

Posted by Bill S on February 26, 2008 at 7:10:19 pm EST
In reply to Planning a Trip to Mt Whitney July/August 2008 posted by BigSmoke on December 9, 2007 at 10:19:22 pm EST

On the Mountaineers Route, whether you need technical gear or not depends on your level of experience and the current conditions. If you are used to scrambling up 3rd and 4th class rock, you do not need a rope (it's pretty easy 3rd class, maybe only 2nd class). If any in your party are leery of high places, you will need a rope for their comfort (and know how to belay properly). Depending on the snow conditions (and this is a pretty heavy snow year), you can need ice ax and possibly crampons well into July, or even into August, though usually you don't need them after mid May or early June. Then again, when I first hiked the Whitney trail as a 15 year old, I could have used crampons and ice ax hiking up that August (the switchback section getting up to the saddle was completely covered with snow, and very hard snow at that).

Replies

View: flat | threaded

There have been no replies

Post a Reply

Before replying, please read the complete thread.