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I'm thinking of entering the Whitney lottery for a day hike up the Mountaineer's Route, and I'm trying to decide which date(s) to try for. Obviously this is a HUGE snow year, so I wasn't thinking of June; I'm not an idiot. In a normal year, when is the Mountaineer's Route finally snow-free? What was it like in 2011? Any guesses for this year?
I know that in general, if I want to avoid ice, August or early September is safest, but by then the days are getting shorter (and the lowlands are HOT). So I guess my main question to those who know the High Sierra is: What about July?
I descended the Mountaineer's Route in the third week of August 1995 (180% of normal statewide) and a similar time in August 1996 (100% of normal).
In 1995 there was still some snow in the main chute but it wasn't a big deal. The upper traverse, the way we descended, was soft snow. It was easy but somewhat exposed and we used ice axes for security. The steeper upper chute that's usually called fourth class we didn't take and I don't remember even looking at it. It probably had some ice in it.
In 1996 there wasn't any real snow in the main chute that couldn't easily be bypassed. On the other hand, we were ankle deep in hailstones as a thunderstorm built rapidly while we stood on the summit, causing my clothes to buzz. As we ran for the chute there was a very close FLASH-BOOM. That was scary!
My guess is you'll have to deal with some snow in July this year. If you really want snow-free then wait until late August or even September... of course it can snow then, sometimes it does.
There is so much traffic on the main trail that having some snow left is not as big a deal as it might be in a less traveled locale. Any snow will be trampled down thoroughly. What you have deal with is the possible icy conditions in the morning, as the melt of the day before my freeze overnight. I would be prepared with microspikes or other traction devices in order to make it simple and safe. Given that, July should be fine - though It would not be my choice of timing, due to weather. July is prime thunderstorm season - or at least early July. August and September are less so, and since you will be locked into a day - if you get a spot - it's nice to have the odds of a good weather window as high as you can get them.
One other thing about a higher snow year is the patch of snow that is usually just below the summit. It gets tracked out pretty well, but sometimes it has too many tracks through it, so that on the way down you can get in the wrong track and then find you are not on the trail when you hit the bottom of the patch. This happened to a guy when I was up there once. I saw the guy leave, and an hour or two later he showed up again, having been wandering around the summit plateau the whole time after getting confused in the snowpatch. I walked him back down the right way and set him on the trail. It's not a big deal, as long as you are aware of it I doubt anyone would have an issue finding the trail. But you might need to pay attention, and by that time everybody is pretty tired so it's good to keep in mind.
Are you aware of the Whitney Portal Store message board? you can always get current conditions there:
paul wrote:There is so much traffic on the main trail that having some snow left is not as big a deal as it might be in a less traveled locale.
I'm not worried about the main trail, though; I'm more concerned about the steep route up from Iceberg Lake.
paul wrote:July is prime thunderstorm season - or at least early July. August and September are less so, and since you will be locked into a day - if you get a spot - it's nice to have the odds of a good weather window as high as you can get them.
D'oh... I didn't even think of thunderstorms! Good to know.
The Whitney Portal was useful to me when I first went up Mt. Whitney in 2014 as a day hike, an all day hike starting about 4:30 and not ending until 8:00. People will post the current conditions sometimes with a trip report with pictures as well. Of course, that doesn't really help you in applying for a permit, but it can give you an idea of what you will be facing, what equipment you will need, and if you even want to give it a go before you drive to Lone Pine. The Mountaineers route as a day hike seems pretty ambitious, way too ambitious for me (even if I was interested in summiting Whitney a 3rd time). Good luck, and I hope you get your permit and have good weather.
Indeed you asked about the MR instead of the MT. My bad - should have read more carefully before opening my digital mouth. so different story then, although similar in ne respect in that it gets a fair amount of traffic . But not being a trail it is a different situation, and I would expect you 're going to want real crampons and an ice axe on the MR in July. But one never know this far out what the weather may bring, so conditions are impossible to predict accurately. What snow is left - and that could be substantial - will be firm and maybe icy - though if you are doing it in a day you are not going to be in the chute in the early AM, so it may have softened up by the time you hit it. They have an ongoing thread on MR conditions at the portal online message board, so you can keep up on that to know what awaits you.
I'm not a fan of either ice axes or hiking in thunderstorms
Add mosquitoes to you list if you consider July. August will be your best bet and as previously mentioned, check back here and on the Whitney Portal for the up-to-date conditions.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member:http://reconn.org
Hmmm... if it must be August, the week of 8/21 seems safe, except that's the total solar eclipse up here in Oregon, and I can't miss that. So I guess it'd be 8/14 or 8/28. The earlier date would mean 40 more minutes of daylight, but possibly more snow, a greater chance of thunderstorms, and less likelihood of winning the lottery. Decisions, decisions...
Well, I put in for 8/30 (Wednesday)... with Tuesday, Monday, and Thursday as alternate choices. Given last year's stats for weekdays, I like my chances.
In a normal year, when is the Mountaineer's Route finally snow-free? What was it like in 2011? Any guesses for this year?
Good to know.
