Onion Valley to Whitney and snow

I'd check the PCT Class of 2015 Facebook page. PCT hikers are going through there now. Also the Whitney Portal message board:
http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/whitney-messageBoard.html
I was in the Crabtree Meadow area 5/21 during the "surprize" snow fall. Snow yes, but not significant quantity, at least up to 11,500ft. I suspect unless another storm rolls through there will be a significant melt during the next two weeks.
PCT hikers were and are getting accross Forester Pass currently.

Nearly always when there is a snow storm this late in the spring season, the snow will cover some trails and confuse everybody for just a few hours. Then very quickly the new snow melts down, and it leaves behind traces.

There are a couple of spots above 13,000 feet where you have to watch out. The newly melting snow refreezes and makes an icy patch, but that is only a factor before 9 a.m. As I recall, Forester Pass is about 13,150', and there can be a snowy trail on the north side and then just a bit of cornice and a bit of ice in the shade of the south side.

Last year in June I had to scramble up onto an old snow drift for about ten paces on the last two miles of Whitney, and then it was back to dry trail. Last year there had been a good snow storm just ten days or so before I went, so I had taken an ice axe and crampons in the car with me. By the time I picked up my permit, the trail was 99.9% snow free, so I left everything extra behind.

OTOH, it is always possible for there to be another snow storm up there within the next two weeks, so the whole cycle may repeat.

The best sources of information are the Mount Whitney Store message board and the Interagency Visitor Center.

–B.G.–

I know that a coworker's friends had to cancel their attempt on Whitney due to the last snow.

If you're curious about Whitney's conditions you could just check out the webcam:

http://www.whitneyzone.com/wc_notes.htm

Looks like there's a little bit of snow in some nooks & crannies which is not surprising. It shouldn't be anything that would impede someone though.

I’d check the PCT Class of 2015 Facebook page. PCT hikers are going through there now.

Also see the PCTA Journalist. I’m curious to see the blogs of those just getting into the Whitney zone this week.

Check this Facebook group for current conditions in the Sierra Nevada:

Sierra Nevada Current Conditions – Trails, Passes and Peaks
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1578540459102320/