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Question, we will be backpacking from the north on The JMT then west up to Whitney. I'll have 3 people with me that are much more the backpacker and casual climber. When headed down to The Whitney Portal, I'd like to save 6 miles and decend on The Mountaineers route. Thoughts on the two routes?

I would recommend the Main Whitney Trail in your scenario as it is a gentle class 1 path in comparison. The MR has multiple sections that would be more technically difficult than anything on the rest of the trip with strenuous, steep, and sometimes exposed movements required. Plus the group will have backpacking packs that make such terrain more challenging than when traveling light and you will be going downhill, where control through moderate scrambling, steep, or rugged terrain is more difficult than when going uphill. In addition to picking your way down the steep class 3 scramble from the summit area without route experience, there is some route finding through brush and boulders near the creek and then the exposed E-ledges. Going downhill on the main trail will be a breeze, safer, and possibly even faster for the described group. The only thing you would have going for you if not worn out by the trip is that all would be well adapted to hiking and altitude at that point in the trip.

I second Colinr . His assessment of the situation is right on the money.

'Ditto' what Marcsoltan and colinr recommend. If your group are more casual backpacker types the Mountaineers route should be avoided. Its always harder going down a 'scramble' route, and much more so when you did not come up it and are carrying fully-loaded backpacks.

Thank you all!

If Colinr's commentary was not enough to persuade you to take the main trail, here are 2 more considerations. You didn't say when your trip was scheduled, but the Mountaineers Route can have hard steep snow and ice to cross until late in the year. Then consider that using the Mountaineers Route you would have to hump your packs up 2+ miles from Trail Crest to the Whitney summit.

sierraman wrote:If Colinr's commentary was not enough to persuade you to take the main trail, here are 2 more considerations. You didn't say when your trip was scheduled, but the Mountaineers Route can have hard steep snow and ice to cross until late in the year. Then consider that using the Mountaineers Route you would have to hump your packs up 2+ miles from Trail Crest to the Whitney summit.

Thank you and yes the Whitney Trail for sure. And snow/ice likely will be part of the equation as the trip is June 8th - 13th. It's been a very light snow year but ......

related question...

has anyone done the standard whitney trail then south at consulation lake, over arc pass and down to meysan lakes somehow? arc pass looks chill and then maybe cut east just south of mallory?
trying to make a loop...

Arc Pass alone will dump you into Miter Basin. To get to Meysan, you would need to take a left from Arc Pass over Richins Pass (between Mounts Irvine and Mallory). That will involve what I would call Class 2+ terrain. The descent to the main Meysan Lake from there is a bit loose and steep. It is doable, but likely to be an adventure.

My advice would be to go Mountaineers up, and then descend Main Route. The two routes are very different in character, technical skill, and views.

1st question would be when you plan to do it?

Sorry, I missed your response re the trip schedule. Early June is a bit early not to have some snow/ice on the Mountaineers Rte.

In early season, (May, June, early July) the Mountaineers Route can have a bit of technical stuff high up and can be icy in places. The Regular Route (if you follow the trail and don't try to short cut it) has no issues. So if you go with people who are not quite proficient, go up and down the Trail Route. If it is someone's first experience with Whitney, it will be unforgettable anyway.

cheers Marmaduke, Alois.

Depending on conditions, the descent off the summit and traverse over to the Mountaineer's Route can be icy and sketchy.

You might need crampons and ice axe. Also, unless you've been there before it's always an issue finding the correct route down.

An alternative is to descend the north face instead of the Mountaineer's Route. I've skied both lines.

But the initial descent couloir on the north face ends in cliffs, so they need to know how to self arrest. One-third of the way down you have to traverse over into the next couloir to bypass the cliffs. And then you just pop over the Whitney-Russell Pass and down to Whitney Portal.

The N face is a much more reasonable descent than the Mountaineer's Route, but it's still not a cake walk.