ferdinandverboom - Oct 26, 2013 2:39 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2011
Great
I did the route with my wife in the spring of 2011. Great route! With a lot of snow. We had the route for ourselves, no other parties. Nice couloir to the summit. We did it in one day, which was quite heavy, but okay.
Got seriously, perilously off-route before the ledges, then struggled to find a way through the willows above Lower Boy Scout Lake, then went up the wrong chute and had to traverse on an airy ridge over to the notch. Wanted to stop, but knew that downclimbing to iceberg lake would be harder and more dangerous than summitting and taking the trail. One of the hardest things I've done, but dammit I made it! Picked up a JMT through hiker on the way down and drive him to Yosemite. The whole hike took about 9.5 hours.
I had permits for North Fork of Lone Pine Creek-JM34 for 4 people. We drove from Corvallis, OR and Portland, OR and did it all as a 3-day trip (permits for Monday/Tuesday only). We originally planned on staying at Upper Boy Scout Lake, but decided to shorten our summit day trip by moving up to Iceberg Lake instead. We departed at 5:30am, topped out at 8:30am, and made it back to Whitney Portal at 7pm. Very few people on the whole route and serene views abound. Also saw several people crossing the finish line for the Badwater 100 ultra-marathon at the Portal.
This would have been easier if I hadn't led my partner up the wrong gully -- the one immediately to the right of the correct one. Eventually we realized our mistake and were able to traverse and get back on route.
A beautiful day took us up the main chute (with a diversion at the beginning to avoid an iced-over lower gully) to the 4th- and sometimes 5th-class top-out above the notch. Amazing!!
scgrant - May 20, 2013 2:13 pm Date Climbed: May 18, 2013
Fun Route
Even though it was a relatively dry year for Whitney there was still enough snow in the chute to make for an easy climb. The final 400 was a mix of snow and rock and wasn't all too bad either. Great route.
mrchad9 - Mar 4, 2013 5:16 pm Date Climbed: Mar 2, 2013
Winter Trip
Enjoyable winter trip up the Mountaineer's Route and then over to Muir and down from Trail Crest. Getting back to camp between UBSL and Iceberg Lake was not easy!
UAmatt89 - Mar 1, 2013 3:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2012
Whitney Loop
Second attempt on Whitney. First occurred ~10 years ago via the Whitney Trail while I was visiting friends on the central coast. Now that I'm living in California, the mountain beckoned me back. Camped at Iceberg then summitted and returned using the Whitney Trail. So glad I chose MR on the way up as the main trail was super crowded on the way down.
ZeroFC - Nov 1, 2012 6:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 30, 2012
Mountaineer's Route
Started from Lower Boy Scout Lake.
From that point, a bit of snow and ice on the route leading up to Iceberg Lake forced a slightly slower pace. Ice was too thin for crampons but covered large enough areas of the path to make it slightly challenging. Took about 3.5 hours to Iceberg Lake.
Taking the chute to the summit was a nightmare with crampons. No existing path meant postholing past the knees through soft fresh powder and hitting the loose scree underneath. I think microspikes would have been much more fitting under the circumstances. I thought that the snow would be firmer towards the top but that was absolutely not the case. Was a long slow climb up in deep snow up to the notch but weather conditions were fine.
Glissading down the entire chute was a lot of fun and saved a ton of time. Met three others who had setup at Iceberg Lake for a October 31st summit attempt.
A lot of fun and would consider coming back in the future.
telemarkdude - Oct 6, 2012 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 1985
Mountaineer's
Camped at Iceberg Lake. From there, with the great weather we had, it was a very fast up and down scramble.
Climbed with a couple of guys from SMG (Dakin and Leath). Stuck to the left side of the main chute then climbed the second chute on the north side. Lots of loose rock in the gullies but manageable.
Hiked in with Jean on July 14, 2012 and camped at Iceberg Lake.
A lot of loose rocks in the gully and the final 400 ft was solid.
Kind of nervous at first since we did not bring the helmets. But stay on the right side of gully most of time will avoid lots of loose rocks.
Pfeiffer75 - Jul 8, 2012 2:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2012
No snow!
Hardly any snow this year. The chute was a loose experience. The final 400 feet was the most pleasant part of the climb from Iceberg Lake
chicagosky - Apr 15, 2012 11:52 am Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2012
Know how to self arrest
Made it to 14138 feet at the top of the couliour and then turned back after a scary fall. See trip report for details
blakemj33 - Dec 25, 2011 8:44 pm Date Climbed: Dec 10, 2011
Climb on!
B-E-A utiful!!!
ElGreco - Nov 2, 2011 12:16 am Date Climbed: Apr 24, 2011
MR
Via Mountaineer's Route. Clear conditions after a brief storm on Saturday, but very windy. The first pitch of the final 400ft is rock/mixed right now, while the rest is fairly deep snow under a crust.
PrinceOfNorway - Oct 24, 2011 3:28 pm Date Climbed: Apr 17, 2010
Very beautiful mountain
Did this in one day. Left at midnight and got to the top at about 9 AM. One of the best mountains I've ever had the joy to experience.
jaxcharlie - Sep 13, 2011 7:47 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2011
Up the Mountaineers
Wow, what a fun route! Especially the ledges leading up to Iceberg Lakes, and the last 500 feet. Unfortunately I went down the trail so I could grab Muir on the way by, and that was incredibly boring after having down the mountaineer's.
Holsti97 - Aug 14, 2011 7:35 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2011
48th U.S. Highpoint on MR
Climbed Telescope Peak 2 days earlier and then spent a day exploring Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills. Hiked up to Iceberg Lake and slept under the stars. Had to break ice on lake in the morning to get water for coffee. Classic scramble up the chute and to the summit. Climbed with SP members Tracy, edsclimb, and my niece Megan. Tracy had climbed Whitney 38 years earlier at 11 years old and Whitney was my 48th United States Highpoint. Great way to finish my quest.
hightinerary - Aug 9, 2011 1:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2013
Changing Lanes
After hiking up the Mt. Whitney Main Trail numerous times over the years, I switched to the Mountaineer's Route to avoid the crowds.
ferdinandverboom - Oct 26, 2013 2:39 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2011
GreatI did the route with my wife in the spring of 2011. Great route! With a lot of snow. We had the route for ourselves, no other parties. Nice couloir to the summit. We did it in one day, which was quite heavy, but okay.
ljwoodw - Sep 5, 2013 4:05 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2013
Labor(ious) Day HikeGot seriously, perilously off-route before the ledges, then struggled to find a way through the willows above Lower Boy Scout Lake, then went up the wrong chute and had to traverse on an airy ridge over to the notch. Wanted to stop, but knew that downclimbing to iceberg lake would be harder and more dangerous than summitting and taking the trail. One of the hardest things I've done, but dammit I made it! Picked up a JMT through hiker on the way down and drive him to Yosemite. The whole hike took about 9.5 hours.
nicozone - Jul 18, 2013 8:01 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2013
Extended WeekendI had permits for North Fork of Lone Pine Creek-JM34 for 4 people. We drove from Corvallis, OR and Portland, OR and did it all as a 3-day trip (permits for Monday/Tuesday only). We originally planned on staying at Upper Boy Scout Lake, but decided to shorten our summit day trip by moving up to Iceberg Lake instead. We departed at 5:30am, topped out at 8:30am, and made it back to Whitney Portal at 7pm. Very few people on the whole route and serene views abound. Also saw several people crossing the finish line for the Badwater 100 ultra-marathon at the Portal.
bcrowell2 - Jul 10, 2013 8:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2013
next time, find the right gullyThis would have been easier if I hadn't led my partner up the wrong gully -- the one immediately to the right of the correct one. Eventually we realized our mistake and were able to traverse and get back on route.
theflyingmountaineer - Jul 9, 2013 6:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2013
Perfect summer ascentA beautiful day took us up the main chute (with a diversion at the beginning to avoid an iced-over lower gully) to the 4th- and sometimes 5th-class top-out above the notch. Amazing!!
scgrant - May 20, 2013 2:13 pm Date Climbed: May 18, 2013
Fun RouteEven though it was a relatively dry year for Whitney there was still enough snow in the chute to make for an easy climb. The final 400 was a mix of snow and rock and wasn't all too bad either. Great route.
mrchad9 - Mar 4, 2013 5:16 pm Date Climbed: Mar 2, 2013
Winter TripEnjoyable winter trip up the Mountaineer's Route and then over to Muir and down from Trail Crest. Getting back to camp between UBSL and Iceberg Lake was not easy!
UAmatt89 - Mar 1, 2013 3:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2012
Whitney LoopSecond attempt on Whitney. First occurred ~10 years ago via the Whitney Trail while I was visiting friends on the central coast. Now that I'm living in California, the mountain beckoned me back. Camped at Iceberg then summitted and returned using the Whitney Trail. So glad I chose MR on the way up as the main trail was super crowded on the way down.
ZeroFC - Nov 1, 2012 6:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 30, 2012
Mountaineer's RouteStarted from Lower Boy Scout Lake.
From that point, a bit of snow and ice on the route leading up to Iceberg Lake forced a slightly slower pace. Ice was too thin for crampons but covered large enough areas of the path to make it slightly challenging. Took about 3.5 hours to Iceberg Lake.
Taking the chute to the summit was a nightmare with crampons. No existing path meant postholing past the knees through soft fresh powder and hitting the loose scree underneath. I think microspikes would have been much more fitting under the circumstances. I thought that the snow would be firmer towards the top but that was absolutely not the case. Was a long slow climb up in deep snow up to the notch but weather conditions were fine.
Glissading down the entire chute was a lot of fun and saved a ton of time. Met three others who had setup at Iceberg Lake for a October 31st summit attempt.
A lot of fun and would consider coming back in the future.
telemarkdude - Oct 6, 2012 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 1985
Mountaineer'sCamped at Iceberg Lake. From there, with the great weather we had, it was a very fast up and down scramble.
WayneFry - Sep 4, 2012 3:06 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2012
MR - Well alright thenClimbed with a couple of guys from SMG (Dakin and Leath). Stuck to the left side of the main chute then climbed the second chute on the north side. Lots of loose rock in the gullies but manageable.
mengbo - Jul 16, 2012 2:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2012
Great ClimbHiked in with Jean on July 14, 2012 and camped at Iceberg Lake.
A lot of loose rocks in the gully and the final 400 ft was solid.
Kind of nervous at first since we did not bring the helmets. But stay on the right side of gully most of time will avoid lots of loose rocks.
Pfeiffer75 - Jul 8, 2012 2:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2012
No snow!Hardly any snow this year. The chute was a loose experience. The final 400 feet was the most pleasant part of the climb from Iceberg Lake
chicagosky - Apr 15, 2012 11:52 am Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2012
Know how to self arrestMade it to 14138 feet at the top of the couliour and then turned back after a scary fall. See trip report for details
blakemj33 - Dec 25, 2011 8:44 pm Date Climbed: Dec 10, 2011
Climb on!B-E-A utiful!!!
ElGreco - Nov 2, 2011 12:16 am Date Climbed: Apr 24, 2011
MRVia Mountaineer's Route. Clear conditions after a brief storm on Saturday, but very windy. The first pitch of the final 400ft is rock/mixed right now, while the rest is fairly deep snow under a crust.
PrinceOfNorway - Oct 24, 2011 3:28 pm Date Climbed: Apr 17, 2010
Very beautiful mountainDid this in one day. Left at midnight and got to the top at about 9 AM. One of the best mountains I've ever had the joy to experience.
jaxcharlie - Sep 13, 2011 7:47 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2011
Up the MountaineersWow, what a fun route! Especially the ledges leading up to Iceberg Lakes, and the last 500 feet. Unfortunately I went down the trail so I could grab Muir on the way by, and that was incredibly boring after having down the mountaineer's.
Holsti97 - Aug 14, 2011 7:35 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2011
48th U.S. Highpoint on MRClimbed Telescope Peak 2 days earlier and then spent a day exploring Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills. Hiked up to Iceberg Lake and slept under the stars. Had to break ice on lake in the morning to get water for coffee. Classic scramble up the chute and to the summit. Climbed with SP members Tracy, edsclimb, and my niece Megan. Tracy had climbed Whitney 38 years earlier at 11 years old and Whitney was my 48th United States Highpoint. Great way to finish my quest.
hightinerary - Aug 9, 2011 1:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2013
Changing LanesAfter hiking up the Mt. Whitney Main Trail numerous times over the years, I switched to the Mountaineer's Route to avoid the crowds.