Hey everyone I'm new and looking for info on this route gear, nav, best spots to camp...thanks in advance.

Great book by Peter Croft
Try
http://www.Whitneyportalstore.com
http://www.whitneyzone.com
Everything you are looking for can be found in those resources.
Have fun!

Tad

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Camp at Iceberg Lake--one of the purtiest places in America


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We did it in one day. Start at 4, back at 5 in the afternoon. MR up, normal route down. It was in june last year. There was a lot of snow, which made the descent quicker. We used ice axe, crampons, helmet.
Good luck, it's a beautiful route!

ChristopherFranklin wrote:Hey everyone I'm new and looking for info on this route gear, nav, best spots to camp...thanks in advance.

Did you look on the Mt. Whitney page under "Mountains & Rocks"? Scroll up to the top where the summitpost logo is, then look at the blue bar beneath it. Scroll over where it says "Mountains & Rocks", click on it, then enter "Whitney" in the search box. A table will come up and you should find Mt. Whiteny on it. Click open that page and the "Routes" list will be in the column on the left. The Mt. Whitney page itself will have info on getting access to the area.

Permits are an issue. It will be easier to get a permit if you try it from Shepherd's Pass and come in to Whitney from the west. Bighorn plateau has the best panorama in the High Sierra.

Be careful. The MR is not difficult when the conditions are good but it can be treacherous when icey. There's a fatality every 4-5 years up there.

Also, take time to acclimatize. You'll suffer less for it.

Thanks for the info everyone! Are ropes nessesary? Also I'm a little confused on the permits I understand it's done online now. It do you still need to submit for 2013 in February?

Hi Christopher,

To answer your questions it would be useful to know when you want to go and what your experience is with stuff like that.

Assuming that you want to go now, then I would say, based on when we descended it a few weeks ago after climbing the East Buttress:

There is no snow whatsoever on the upper 2/3 of route and below that snow can be avoided, if there even is snow. That also means you will climb on sand, scree and other unpleasant stuff which you can kick down or might be kicked down onto you. The route is a lot more pleasant when we did it in snow conditions last year.

I was planning on doing it next July but it sounds like some snow would make it easier going. I've climbed Arizona's tallest. I have zero experience with crampons and axe however I do have experience rock climbing. So I guess I'll shoot for May and get comfortable on crampons this winter. What about the permits the walk through on this site is kinda confusing on the subject of permits.

You can get permits on recreation.gov. The most commonly used trailhead for this route is North Fork of Lone Pine Creek. For these, there is no lottery, you just need to be fast in booking when they become available. If that fails you can try to get a walk-in permit at the ranger station.

Many people would consider going before May, if weather and avalanche conditions are good, since no permits are needed then.

ChristopherFranklin wrote:Thanks for the info everyone! Are ropes nessesary? Also I'm a little confused on the permits I understand it's done online now. It do you still need to submit for 2013 in February?

You are confusing the lottery with the wilderness permit. The mr is not on the lottery, and you can actually show up the prior day to get a permit for the next day if you'd like. I would highly suggest doing it as a day hike, as it's a real pia bringing overnight gear on that trail. Also, no ropes are needed unless there is a ton of snow, which isn't likely at the time of year you are going. You may need an ice axe/crampons for the culoir, however.

The MR via the NF Lone Pine Creek Trail, is within the Whitney Region Lottery Program.

But, if a "No Show" exists after 2pm the day prior, you can attain the slot/s at no cost at the Lone Pine/Whitney Ranger Station Visitor Center.

There currently is no snow to speak of in either the main, first chute after the notch nor on any portion of the NF slope.


PS: I do not know what I am talking about. I just guide the route on a regular basis. Off on another gig up the MR this weekend.

The MR via the NF Lone Pine Creek Trail, is within the Whitney Region Lottery Program.

Depends. Day-use is lottery, overnight is not.

Over night access to any portion of the Whitney Region requires a standard Whitney Access permit.

NFLP area is a portion of the Lottery, regardless of day or over night. From the first week of May through the last week of Sept.

Again, I work directly with the Whitney Permit Administrator on a daily basis and just confirmed this fact.