Mt. Whitney

Annual Mt. Whitney winter hike just before the summer quota start. So much snow this year, I should have bring skis.

Lower gate

Scale at trailhead

My bivy spot

Sunrise from above Upper Boy scouts lake

Mt. Whitney from Iceberg lake

Mountaineering chute

Mt. Russel

Final 400 ft chute exit

Looking south

Top of Mt. Whiney

Busy parking lot

Mt. Whitney

My annual Mt. Whitney winter excursion was in the February this year. I went solo again since everyone was busy. Typical itinerary is drive from LA starting at 2:00 PM, arriving at trail head around 6:00 PM, hike to Lower Boy scouts lake (10,340 ft), few hours of rest, boil water and start hiking at 2:00 AM, top out around 10:00 AM, hike back and drive back to LA. Speed can vary greatly depending on snow conditions and my physical shape.

Whitney trail head

Note that road to normal trail head is closed during the winter and you need to start from 6600 ft and hike additional 3.5 miles one way. If you are lucky lower gate maybe only soft closed (you can drive around a closure sign on your own risk), but the upper gate is always hard closed.

Cold bivy on the snow

Frozen water

Sunrise near Upper Boy scouts lake

First glimpse of Whitney

Sun

Bird greeting hikers and looking for food

Main chute

This year was super low snow year with final 400 ft chute almost clear of snow.

Final 400 ft chute

Mt. Russel

At the top

Snow inside the house

Mt. Muir

Map

Mt. Muir was last California 14ers for me to complete. It's located in Whitey Zone and requires permit. We even got an overnight permit for Whitey for end of June, but due to fire it was canceled, so I have to do some improvisation. Instead of direct route I decided to start from Meysan Lakes and do loop with few bonus peaks.

Foothills after recent fire

Meadow near Meson Lake

Between rock and ice

Mt Mallory

Bivi spot at 13,000 ft

Mt. Irvine

Sunset

Mt. Langley

After sleeping at 13'000 ft. my first peak was Mt. Mallory. Initially I try to traverse on the west side, but stuck at sketchy down climb and have to go all the way back and hike 150 ft down and use one the chutes to went up, which worked out. On the way back I use the path where I stuck in the morning, since going up was much easier.

Mt. Irvine was easy, there was some interesting sections going down toward Arc pass, but nothing memorable.

Chimney

My 3rd objective was Mt. McAdie, but I run of water and have to detour to unnamed lake to refill and come back to Arc Pass. It was getting late in the day and I decided to leave McAdie for next time and descended via Arc Pass to Consultation Lake.

Mt. McAdie

Sky Blue Lake

After spending second night at Consultation Lake I continued via easy trail to my main objective. It was easy 30-40 min scramble to tag Mt. Muir.

Hitchcock Lakes

Mt. Muir

Mt. Whitney

Opted to descent via Mountaineering route, which was fast and convenient. The only surprise was impassable waterfall in the main canyon, so I have to south to avoid it.

Mt. Whitney via mountaineer's route hike

After hiking Mt. Russell previous day I was not sure I can make it, but at least I gave it a try. Started around 2:00 AM from Upper Boy scouts lake I made a good progress via Mountaineering route topping out around 7:00 AM. Direct route from the notch looked sketchy with mix of ice and rocks, so I went around, maybe next time I will check it out.

Iceberg lake still under the snow

Mt. Russell

At the top of Mt. Whitney

Mount Russell hike

Our ambitious plan was to camp at Upper Boy scouts lake a tackle both Mount Russell and Whitney in 2 days. Without much of acclimatization that was quite hard, but never the less we did it. I was definitely impressed by Russell 14,094 feet high. We use excellent narrow east ridge, which reminded me of Matthes Crest traverse in Yosemite, but larger with better views.

Sunrise

Tulainyo Lake

East ridge of Mt. Russell

Mt. Whitney

True west peak