Route Climbed: Main Trail Date Climbed: 12 November 2005
WOW! And I thought this would be an easy walk up.... Left frozen Trail Camp at 0700 and returned at 1520; rather arduous with the new snow from Thursday night's rain storm and beautiful morning icing. Thanks to Thomas for breaking trail to the summit! I found nothing "fun" about this trail but it was most certainly interesting to see what all the fuss is about with people falling/dying on the Main Trail - it IS quite treacherous in these current conditions.
Oh yea ... who took the door off the Smithsonian hut?
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Route Date Climbed: April 4, 2005
We had beautiful weather and the snow conditions were perfect until summit day. Then we had a storm blow in and high winds hit us hard at the Notch. Given someone had died at that very spot the week prior (lost balance and ice axe and went over the exposed side of the Notch), we decided to turn around. Was a good call because we turned around and looked back up from camp and the summit was embroiled in a snow storm.
Route Climbed: Whitney trail Date Climbed: Oct 4,2002
Hiked the main trail three times and skiied the Mountaineers Route once.
Holsti97 - Nov 8, 2005 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2005
Route Climbed: Whitney Trail Date Climbed: October 7, 2005
We climbed Boundary Peak in Nevada on the 5th so were tired when we reached our hotel at Lone Pine. We spent most of the morning on the 6th relaxing in Lone Pine. We left Whitney Portal at about 2:30 PM and hiked up to Outpost Camp. We decided to leave at 1:00 AM to give us the best chance to summit. It was cold and crisp and the stars were out. Beautiful night. We climbed with headlamps and reached the cables in the dark. We decided to put on crampons because it was very icy. We had no problem crossing the cables and were on the switchbacks when the sun came up. We were all tired from lack of sleep and the effects of altitude. At 13,250 feet, just short of Trail Crest, I decided to go back down with Ed who was nauseous and we broke camp and returned to the Whitney Portal. It was very hot on the descent. Joe and Reese continued on and reached the summit. They only saw 2 other climbers who summited that day. A lot of people turned around, because they had started late and the switchbacks were so icy. I plan on returning to Whitney and will summit.
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Date Climbed: March 13, 2005
Three nights on the mountain. Made the summit at 1330 hours, just ahead of some bad weather. Otherwise the weather was spectacular. Read the trip report for more!
Route Climbed: Whitney Trail Date Climbed: September 6th, 2005
Did this as the final hike of a highpoints trip. We had no problem doing it in a day. On the trail by 4:30 am and back to the parking lot by 4:45 pm. And on the way down I had to run back a half mile up the trail to retrieve my forgotten trekking pole!
Route Climbed: Mount Whitney Main Trail Date Climbed: Oct. 7, 2004
October is the time to climb. The 7th was a spectacular day, clear blue skies all of the way up and back - 45 degrees on the summit at 10:30 AM and very few people. The only complaint was the long hike back. Left Trail camp at 6:00 AM and finished at Portal in the dark at 7:45 PM. Watch out for the world famous Lone Pine Film Festival - we ended going on to Bishop to find a room.
Route Climbed: Normal tourist trail Date Climbed: October 2000
A two day summit when I was just starting to get into climbing/mountaineering. Did it with a great friend and had an experience that made me want more!
Route Climbed: East Face Date Climbed: August 25, 2005
Awesome Route on the East face. Started from the portal campground at 5 am and went for it. Hiked down the trail and reached the road at 8:30 pm. Amazingly fun route.
Route Climbed: Sheperds Pass up West Side of Whitney Date Climbed: 9/8/2005
Spent a fantastic 6 days climbing Mt. Tyndall and then Mt. Whitney from the Symmes Creek TH over Sheperds Pass. For the first time my son was ready to bag his first 14'rs. He got the two he wanted. 5 perfect days and we walked out the last day in a snow strorm. God help the twits we saw still heading up when we were pointing out all the bad weather coming in. Even the previous day we saw lots of day hikers retreating without hitting the summit because the wind chill was below zero. T-shirts and short don't cut in on Mt. Whitney folks. It's really sad to see the state of the west side of Whitney. Even my 13 year old son notices the difference. We saw one couple in 5 days and then we pass 40+ people on Whitney. Still time spent in the wilderness with a good company can't be beat.
Route Climbed: John Muir Date Climbed: July 13, 1999
Despite a 4 A.M. start and a summit arrival before 10, we could not escape thunder, hail, and rain that came in as we reached the summit. Although we had clear views just fifteen minutes from the summit, we saw nothing while up there (except too many other people).
Deb - Nov 16, 2005 12:33 pm
Route Climbed: Main Trail Date Climbed: 12 November 2005WOW! And I thought this would be an easy walk up.... Left frozen Trail Camp at 0700 and returned at 1520; rather arduous with the new snow from Thursday night's rain storm and beautiful morning icing. Thanks to Thomas for breaking trail to the summit! I found nothing "fun" about this trail but it was most certainly interesting to see what all the fuss is about with people falling/dying on the Main Trail - it IS quite treacherous in these current conditions.
Oh yea ... who took the door off the Smithsonian hut?
dkmayhew - Nov 13, 2005 8:56 pm
Route Climbed: Whitney trail and MR Date Climbed: 5 times over 10 yearsBetter to do Whitney in winter conditions and stay away from the crowds.
emilie - Nov 11, 2005 7:36 pm
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Route Date Climbed: April 4, 2005We had beautiful weather and the snow conditions were perfect until summit day. Then we had a storm blow in and high winds hit us hard at the Notch. Given someone had died at that very spot the week prior (lost balance and ice axe and went over the exposed side of the Notch), we decided to turn around. Was a good call because we turned around and looked back up from camp and the summit was embroiled in a snow storm.
dshoshone - Nov 10, 2005 6:42 pm
Route Climbed: Whitney trail Date Climbed: Oct 4,2002Hiked the main trail three times and skiied the Mountaineers Route once.
Holsti97 - Nov 8, 2005 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2005
Route Climbed: Whitney Trail Date Climbed: October 7, 2005We climbed Boundary Peak in Nevada on the 5th so were tired when we reached our hotel at Lone Pine. We spent most of the morning on the 6th relaxing in Lone Pine. We left Whitney Portal at about 2:30 PM and hiked up to Outpost Camp. We decided to leave at 1:00 AM to give us the best chance to summit. It was cold and crisp and the stars were out. Beautiful night. We climbed with headlamps and reached the cables in the dark. We decided to put on crampons because it was very icy. We had no problem crossing the cables and were on the switchbacks when the sun came up. We were all tired from lack of sleep and the effects of altitude. At 13,250 feet, just short of Trail Crest, I decided to go back down with Ed who was nauseous and we broke camp and returned to the Whitney Portal. It was very hot on the descent. Joe and Reese continued on and reached the summit. They only saw 2 other climbers who summited that day. A lot of people turned around, because they had started late and the switchbacks were so icy. I plan on returning to Whitney and will summit.
Pietri - Nov 3, 2005 1:44 am
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Date Climbed: March 13, 2005Three nights on the mountain. Made the summit at 1330 hours, just ahead of some bad weather. Otherwise the weather was spectacular. Read the trip report for more!
dyscti - Oct 29, 2005 4:04 pm
Route Climbed: Whitney Trail Date Climbed: September 6th, 2005Did this as the final hike of a highpoints trip. We had no problem doing it in a day. On the trail by 4:30 am and back to the parking lot by 4:45 pm. And on the way down I had to run back a half mile up the trail to retrieve my forgotten trekking pole!
YetiBauer - Oct 28, 2005 4:10 pm
Route Climbed: East Face Date Climbed: August 13 2005climbed with Bill Heyenbruch, lead by Bela Vadasz. A sweet day of sunshine, clean granite and plenty of fresh air to long remember.
cdickinson - Oct 25, 2005 1:37 pm
Route Climbed: Mount Whitney Main Trail Date Climbed: Oct. 7, 2004October is the time to climb. The 7th was a spectacular day, clear blue skies all of the way up and back - 45 degrees on the summit at 10:30 AM and very few people. The only complaint was the long hike back. Left Trail camp at 6:00 AM and finished at Portal in the dark at 7:45 PM. Watch out for the world famous Lone Pine Film Festival - we ended going on to Bishop to find a room.
rocketsredglare - Oct 24, 2005 10:34 pm
Route Climbed: Normal tourist trail Date Climbed: October 2000A two day summit when I was just starting to get into climbing/mountaineering. Did it with a great friend and had an experience that made me want more!
neocrash - Oct 24, 2005 3:51 am
Route Climbed: The main trail Date Climbed: 21 July 2005great day, but hard as hell to do in a day! Started at midnight.
ripper333 - Oct 18, 2005 3:17 pm
Route Climbed: east buttress Date Climbed: sept 2005awesome climb... the rock was chilly til we reached the sun. had to share the route with another team.
crap slog down the MR.. climbed with steve..
tdoughty - Oct 17, 2005 5:41 pm
Route Climbed: east facewonderful excursion
legoman - Oct 14, 2005 11:25 pm
Route Climbed: East Trail Date Climbed: 9/8/05Whitney was my 2nd 14er. I climbed it with my dad and with a broken wrist. I am 13 years old.
Seth Maciejowski - Oct 14, 2005 4:54 pm
Route Climbed: East Face Date Climbed: August 25, 2005Awesome Route on the East face. Started from the portal campground at 5 am and went for it. Hiked down the trail and reached the road at 8:30 pm. Amazingly fun route.
derekp62 - Oct 6, 2005 1:53 pm
Route Climbed: Sheperds Pass up West Side of Whitney Date Climbed: 9/8/2005Spent a fantastic 6 days climbing Mt. Tyndall and then Mt. Whitney from the Symmes Creek TH over Sheperds Pass. For the first time my son was ready to bag his first 14'rs. He got the two he wanted. 5 perfect days and we walked out the last day in a snow strorm. God help the twits we saw still heading up when we were pointing out all the bad weather coming in. Even the previous day we saw lots of day hikers retreating without hitting the summit because the wind chill was below zero. T-shirts and short don't cut in on Mt. Whitney folks. It's really sad to see the state of the west side of Whitney. Even my 13 year old son notices the difference. We saw one couple in 5 days and then we pass 40+ people on Whitney. Still time spent in the wilderness with a good company can't be beat.
pwdrqst - Oct 4, 2005 3:03 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Hike Date Climbed: Sept 21, 2003Beautiful day and I got my dad up and back. Not bad for someone celebrating his 65 birthday!
Duffer - Oct 4, 2005 1:36 pm
Route Climbed: Main trail Date Climbed: 15 April 1999A lot of snow. Bypassed the switchbacks. Beautiful on top. Long trip down.
fearlss - Sep 29, 2005 11:23 am
Route Climbed: Main Whitney Trail Date Climbed: 25 Sept 2005Beautiful perfect weather! Except the the freezing winds.
At 6am I let a hot cup of coffee rest for 2 minutes...got back and it was frozen on top!
Snow made the way up the summit hard...wish I had crampons. Took me 4hrs from Trail Camp to the summit.
Took me 2hrs 35min from Trail Camp down the portal with a 35lbs pack. I thought it was pretty fast considering how shitty I was feeling.
What a beautiful mountain!!
Bob Sihler - Sep 27, 2005 10:30 pm
Route Climbed: John Muir Date Climbed: July 13, 1999Despite a 4 A.M. start and a summit arrival before 10, we could not escape thunder, hail, and rain that came in as we reached the summit. Although we had clear views just fifteen minutes from the summit, we saw nothing while up there (except too many other people).