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Ice ax needed for mid June-July?
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:15 pm
by TwoFortyJeff
I am planning on doing tht HST over to Whitney Portal and then from Whitney Portal to Yosemite on the JMT. During normal snow years, I would probably feel safer with an ice ax, but I am wondering if I would even need to take it off my pack.
I was originally planning on buying and carrying one just in case, but I am not sure how long the passes will hold snow this year.
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:43 pm
by mountaineer
I wouldn't this year, but that is just me.
Ice ax
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:38 am
by gdurkee
I agree. I've never been a major ice ax fan for the Sierra. Ski poles, for balance, are your most useful tool. When things are a little tenuous (say, parts of the Whitney trail; north side of Glen Pass or south side of Mather), you can get Black Diamond poles with a pretty good self-arrest adze to attach.
Good hike.
George
Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:44 am
by Steve Bearman
Having just returned from the Rock Creek area (John Muir Wilderness), I can say that the low snow rumors are not just rumors. Check out the bottom graph here:
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/icons/PLOT_SWC.2007.gif.
Mid-June last year required an ice axe for safe navigation of off-trail passes. This year, I am pretty confident there will be no need at all.
