Page 1 of 1
Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 13, 2013 3:25 am
by ChristopherFranklin
Doing the MR in early May, I saw some photos on flicker the EWO. My question is is this just an alternate route if the final class 3 climb is iced up? It seemed like a much longer way around.
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:01 am
by Josh Lewis
The Mountaineers route is cooler than the standard route from what I understand. I haven't done the walk up route, but I have done the mountaineers during December. Yes there was ice at the top, but it was manageable. So bring an ice axe and crampons as well as a helmet. The route itself is not that steep and is glissadable in the gully, although many folks would caution against that.
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:03 am
by mrchad9
I'd expect in May you'd have no problem descending the ascent route. I wouldn't worry about the route back.
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 13, 2013 3:53 pm
by clmbr
A few years ago two solo climbers died on MR while descending the icy slope in two weeks apart. Sometimes something easy may kill too. So stay focused.
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:40 pm
by Palisades79
After ascending a grand 5.10 East Face route to the summit in a July ,I thought descending the MR was a gripping rock bowling alley . I guess any gully feels confining compared to a massive open face . Have a great climb !
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:02 pm
by sharperblue
If it's badly iced, stay far left against an obvious low rock wall and you'll be fine
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:28 pm
by Sierra Ledge Rat
I am assuming that you'll be approaching the MR from Iceberg Lake?
The north face might give you an alternate descent.
I have climbed the MR and skied down the north face. (I've also skied down the MR.) From the base of the north face, it's a short walk east up Whitney Creek to the Whitney-Russell pass above Iceberg Lake.
Beware, the descent is not a straight shot down, you've got to traverse across the top of some class 4-5 slabs to reach a chute that drops to Arctic Lake. This photos illustrates the terrain best (the route is in red):
http://www.summitpost.org/class-2-3-routes-on-the-north/44615/c-150227
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:30 pm
by sharperblue
^^^^^ that's true, but that face also gets wind slabs that linger; be careful if you choose that descent
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:34 pm
by Sierra Ledge Rat
Yeah, the N face can be sketchy and icy and avalanche prone, chose your poison wisely.
I always perfer to descend over known terrain.
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:20 pm
by ChristopherFranklin
Great photo ledge rat! I've never seen a pic of the side like that past the notch. Yeah the photo's I saw the guys went through the notch and traversed accross that 4-5 area you have circled in white not sure where exactly they went up.
Our plan is to climb up the final 300/400 at the notch. Were bringing a rope and will rappel down the same way. But its always good to have a back up plan or two.
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:28 pm
by Deb
Bump this junk ~
Recent (of course) beta on MR after the Notch? Ice? Rock? Whiffle balls?
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:31 pm
by mrchad9
Deb wrote:Bump this junk ~
Recent (of course) beta on MR after the Notch? Ice? Rock? Whiffle balls?
It's rock.
Two posts here:
mr-mt-whitney-biggest-mistake-t64667.html#p915125
Re: Mountaineers route "easy walk off"?
Posted:
Fri Mar 29, 2013 6:08 pm
by Deb
Oh ick! I wasn't interested, a friend; I'll tell her to go pick on some other peak.