Mount Whitney
Mountaineers Route

4/15/2005 - 4/17/2005

Our plan was as follows:

Day 1: Hike in and set up base camp at UBSL
Day 2: Summit and return to camp at UBSL
Day 3: Hike out

Woke at 4am on 4/15 for the drive to Lone Pine.
Meeting Time: 7am - Alabama Hills

We parked at the first switchback (7100 ft) because of an impassable barricade created by a dozer.  This was later removed.  Because of our lower start we had 7400 feet of gain to reach the summit and an additional 2.5 miles just to reach the trailhead.

Starting Pack Weight: 40+ lbs

Carried full winter gear: 4 season tent, crampons, ice axe, snowshoes, two sleeping pads, etc.

We also carried a rope, harnesses, belay devices, slings, and webbing but did not use any.

Log

4/15/05

08:40am - Left vehicle
09:53am - Reached Whitney trailhead
10:49am - Reached North Fork trail junction
01:15pm - Reached LBSL
03:53pm - Reached UBSL

4/16/05

07:00am - Left camp at UBSL
08:24am - Reached Iceberg Lake
10:22am - Reached the Notch
11:04am - Topped out above the chute
11:10am - Reached the summit
11:51am - Left summit
01:00pm - Returned to the Notch
02:15pm - Returned to Iceberg Lake
03:24pm - Returned to camp at UBSL

4/17/05

08:15am - Left UBSL
10:45am - Arrived back at vehicle

Misc Notes:

Lowest parking area below the switchbacks is at 6550 feet.  We were one mile beyond that point.