Ice ax needed for mid June-July?

[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.

[mountaineer]

I wouldn't this year, but that is just me.

[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

[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.