Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Route Date Climbed: May 9, 2004
MikeB and I hiked in to Iceberg Lake on the first day and spent day 2 acclimatizing. We summited on day 3. The snow on the lower chute was perfect for climbing with crampons/ice ax. Above the notch, we ascended the rocks on the right-hand side of the first chute unroped.
The weather was perfect the day of our climb, but there were very high winds the day before and after. The MR is an incredible route on a spectacular mountain! However, it is not for the faint of heart. Though only a class 3 climb, the exposure may be intimidating for those not used to it. What a great climb!
Route Climbed: Mountaineers Route Date Climbed: April 24, 2004
Hiked up to basecamp at Upper Boy Scout Lake. Tagged the summit on day 2 with a little variation from the normal mountaineer's route near the top. In the chute above the notch we stuck to the left side because the snow and ice was in good condition and near the top of that there were a couple of class four and short easy class 5 moves that made the bit just before the summit a good deal of fun. Felt very exposed. I started feeling pretty hammered around 14,250 - after every 10 or 20 steps I had to stop and chill for a minute because my head started to get a little woozy. Nothing like a little suffering before reaching the summit - makes it great. All in all the Mountaineers route was a great climb.
Route Climbed: East Buttress Date Climbed: September 5, 2003
Amazing granite, Amazing View, and the most fun I have ever had at altitude on a rope!! CD, Ben, Elliot, and I had a blast climbing to the top of the lower 48 states! 14,497!
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Route Date Climbed: March 24,25
At this time you can drive almost all the way to whitney portal, in fact a 4wd could probably make it all the way, as it is, we started at about 7700'. Used the E-ledges, stayed on the north side of lone pine creek on the way up, nasty bushes. Camped at UBL, bad winds at night were cold. Next day up and down the MR, good weather, more wind, great snow conditions. Returned to camp to find one less tent, if you find one, my friend might like it back. Great hike, great route. PICS
Route Climbed: Mountaineers Route Date Climbed: 21 March 2004
Took a leisurely 4 days to enjoy the trip. Great weather although a little hot and snow was a little soft in the afternoon. I don't think I'll ever do the main trail again!
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Route Date Climbed: March 20,2004
Left high camp at three on the summit by eight.Perfect weather and the snow in the last chute to the top was the best part of trip.Steps already kicked in and some great exposure.All three of use made it.A great trip.
I was the 6th person to reach the summit on March 7, and the 8th in 2004. (2 guys made it to the top in February).
Climbed the MR with Jim. Day 1: ~7200' to LBSL. Day 2: LBSL to the moraine right under the east face. Day 3: climb MR to summit, back down to LBSL. Day 4: back to the truck.
We had perfect snow and weather conditions. Thanks to the guys from Ohio for breaking trail all the way up to Iceburg lake.
Almost everyone on the mountain was a summit post member.
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Date Climbed: March 7, 2004
We started at 12:45 am from Upper Boy Scout. Beautiful, clear night, full moon - didn't have to use headlamps. Above Iceberg Lake we had to break the trail, slow going. I summited at 8:30 am. Perfect weather, nobody else on the summit - how ofted does that happen?
Route Climbed: Whitney Trail Date Climbed: 9/10/01
We hiked the Whitney Trail in one long day. We left at 3 am and got back something like 6:00 pm. Notice the date. We climbed this mountain the day before 9/11. We actually got back home (by plane from Las Vegas - Seattle) on 9/11. I went to bed about 3 hours before the first plane struck WTC. Little surreal.
We have been back twice now to do the Mountaineer's Route. Because of various reasons, we've yet to summit via MR. Hopefully, third time is a charm as we will be attempting another go via MR in April/May 2004.
I climbed with my family, it was my first time to carry my own pack I had lots of fun, but every night it rained for about an hour and on my last day we hiked to the bottom through some hail and sleet. i was nine.
Alpinist - May 11, 2004 3:25 pm
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Route Date Climbed: May 9, 2004MikeB and I hiked in to Iceberg Lake on the first day and spent day 2 acclimatizing. We summited on day 3. The snow on the lower chute was perfect for climbing with crampons/ice ax. Above the notch, we ascended the rocks on the right-hand side of the first chute unroped.
The weather was perfect the day of our climb, but there were very high winds the day before and after. The MR is an incredible route on a spectacular mountain! However, it is not for the faint of heart. Though only a class 3 climb, the exposure may be intimidating for those not used to it. What a great climb!
Here is the full trip report.
thenunz - May 4, 2004 1:08 pm
Route Climbed: Whitney Trail Date Climbed: 05/02/04Great snow and climbing conditions. Don't know how long snow will last. Climbed 2nd chute N' of Muir.
josephgdawson - Apr 30, 2004 2:26 am
Route Climbed: Mountaineers Route Date Climbed: April 24, 2004Hiked up to basecamp at Upper Boy Scout Lake. Tagged the summit on day 2 with a little variation from the normal mountaineer's route near the top. In the chute above the notch we stuck to the left side because the snow and ice was in good condition and near the top of that there were a couple of class four and short easy class 5 moves that made the bit just before the summit a good deal of fun. Felt very exposed. I started feeling pretty hammered around 14,250 - after every 10 or 20 steps I had to stop and chill for a minute because my head started to get a little woozy. Nothing like a little suffering before reaching the summit - makes it great. All in all the Mountaineers route was a great climb.
Completebum - Apr 25, 2004 11:30 pm
Route Climbed: Mountaineers Date Climbed: April 11, 2003Camped just below Iceberg lake and summited the following morning. Strong winds from an approaching storm made packing up camp a little tedious.
esugi - Apr 22, 2004 3:09 pm
Route Climbed: Mountaineers Route Date Climbed: April 18-19, 2004Attempted MR route but we got socked in by snow storm. Over the 4/17-18 weekend, the upper portion of the mountain got up to 15"+
One guys we talked to almost got caught in a slab avalanche in the main chute. Proves that mountain weather and conditions can change real quickly!
cbuelow - Apr 21, 2004 6:41 pm
Route Climbed: Whitney Trail Date Climbed: September 14 - 15, 2003Camped at Trail Camp, up at 2:30am to avoid the crowds and on the summit in time to watch the sunrise.
kelseymkrause - Apr 13, 2004 11:28 pm
Route Climbed: Whitney Main Trail Date Climbed: June 6, 2003Got to Trail camp too early so I climbed to Trail Crest and camped there. In the morning I watched the sun come up from the summit.
coloradoiceclimber - Apr 10, 2004 10:36 pm
Route Climbed: East Buttress Date Climbed: September 5, 2003Amazing granite, Amazing View, and the most fun I have ever had at altitude on a rope!! CD, Ben, Elliot, and I had a blast climbing to the top of the lower 48 states! 14,497!
Felsberg - Mar 27, 2004 4:51 pm
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Route Date Climbed: March 24,25At this time you can drive almost all the way to whitney portal, in fact a 4wd could probably make it all the way, as it is, we started at about 7700'. Used the E-ledges, stayed on the north side of lone pine creek on the way up, nasty bushes. Camped at UBL, bad winds at night were cold. Next day up and down the MR, good weather, more wind, great snow conditions. Returned to camp to find one less tent, if you find one, my friend might like it back. Great hike, great route. PICS
mountaindan - Mar 25, 2004 8:34 pm
Route Climbed: Mountaineers Route Date Climbed: 21 March 2004Took a leisurely 4 days to enjoy the trip. Great weather although a little hot and snow was a little soft in the afternoon. I don't think I'll ever do the main trail again!
tsteine - Mar 24, 2004 11:22 am
Route Climbed: Whitney Trail Date Climbed: 20 October 2003A beautiful day. camped at the portal and trail camp.
Felt like shit at trail camp (drank to little, as usual), however, after 10 hours of cozy rest and drinks in my bag, summit day was great.
repelmen - Mar 23, 2004 11:40 am
Route Climbed: mountaineers route/day hike Date Climbed: sept.03got stares from the peanut gallery on the summit wondering where my permit was.dont need no permit for a 6am to 730 pm walk.
Russell - Mar 22, 2004 12:35 pm
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Route Date Climbed: March 20,2004Left high camp at three on the summit by eight.Perfect weather and the snow in the last chute to the top was the best part of trip.Steps already kicked in and some great exposure.All three of use made it.A great trip.
kovarpa - Mar 11, 2004 11:36 pm
Route Climbed: MR Date Climbed: March 7, 2004A lot of people (6) on the mountain - all who reached the summit were SP'ers... Great weather and conditions.
RSN473 - Mar 11, 2004 10:23 am
Route Climbed: Main Trail Date Climbed: August 1999Climbed with 150 of my closest friends
crag - Mar 10, 2004 4:16 pm
Route Climbed: MR Date Climbed: March 7, 2004I was the 6th person to reach the summit on March 7, and the 8th in 2004. (2 guys made it to the top in February).
Climbed the MR with Jim. Day 1: ~7200' to LBSL. Day 2: LBSL to the moraine right under the east face. Day 3: climb MR to summit, back down to LBSL. Day 4: back to the truck.
We had perfect snow and weather conditions. Thanks to the guys from Ohio for breaking trail all the way up to Iceburg lake.
Almost everyone on the mountain was a summit post member.
Zzyzx - Mar 8, 2004 4:30 am
Route Climbed: Mountaineer's Date Climbed: March 7, 2004We started at 12:45 am from Upper Boy Scout. Beautiful, clear night, full moon - didn't have to use headlamps. Above Iceberg Lake we had to break the trail, slow going. I summited at 8:30 am. Perfect weather, nobody else on the summit - how ofted does that happen?
esugi - Mar 6, 2004 11:35 pm
Route Climbed: Whitney Trail Date Climbed: 9/10/01We hiked the Whitney Trail in one long day. We left at 3 am and got back something like 6:00 pm. Notice the date. We climbed this mountain the day before 9/11. We actually got back home (by plane from Las Vegas - Seattle) on 9/11. I went to bed about 3 hours before the first plane struck WTC. Little surreal.
We have been back twice now to do the Mountaineer's Route. Because of various reasons, we've yet to summit via MR. Hopefully, third time is a charm as we will be attempting another go via MR in April/May 2004.
FonzyCup - Mar 1, 2004 2:40 pm
Route Climbed: Whitney Trail Date Climbed: June 2002wow, long climb. give yourself a full day. acclimatization wasn't happening as fast as i would have liked.
grim24 - Feb 26, 2004 9:06 pm
Route Climbed: trail Date Climbed: july 2001I climbed with my family, it was my first time to carry my own pack I had lots of fun, but every night it rained for about an hour and on my last day we hiked to the bottom through some hail and sleet. i was nine.