A friend and I are planning ahead and considering doing road trip out to climb the East Buttress in mid-late March (i.e. around spring break time). I wanted to see what kind of conditions to expect to be on the route-proper during that time of year, typically... or whether it's really worth doing at all during that time of year since the MR is right next door. Definitely have leeway for suffering some cold on-route, but I thought 8ish pitches of hands in snow/ice filled cracks might dampen the fun. I know it's a bit early, but the two of us want to have plenty of time to train, practice self-rescue stuff, etc.
I have been on Mt. Whitney before, the MR back in January 2011, when the whole place was blanketed under a pretty big amount of snow (a lot higher than average, I think?). I have read some SP pages that snow and ice can linger for a while on parts of the route (north-facing aspects), complicating the good times. I have climbed in cold/very conditions in places like the Cannon Cliff and Seneca Rocks and got away with rock shoes, but I wonder what the altitude factor on Whitney might kick in for cold management. Should I be expecting to climb in boots (i.e. my 'old-school' double plastic Koflachs) rather than rock shoes (assuming that I'd be wearing 'spacious' trad shoes that can accommodate warm socks)? I'll still hedge my bets by training in boots, anyways.
Thanks for the info. May Santa bring y'all shiny new gear...