Base Camp

Mount Whitney

Whitney's east couloir peeks out of the shadows

California's Mount Whitney rises 14,497 (more or less) feet above sea level.

Such a lofty summit makes Whitney the highest point in the continental United States, and consequently one of North America's most coveted summits.

You may as well admit it: you have to climb this mountain, too; it's mandatory. And if you're going to climb it, why not ski it?

Skiing Mount Whitney affords one the opportunity to climb in the (relative) off-season, when you won't be sharing the peak with the thousands who flock to Whitney every Summer.

Strictly speaking, the Whitney region is not among the Sierra's finest ski touring areas. Skiers may find the best terrain on the broad face beneath Trail Crest, along the Mt. Whitney Trail.

Of course, both hikers and skiers will prefer the Mountaineer's Route. Whitney's East Couloir can make for a fine (if brief) ski descent, in good conditions.

Linking the summit to the Mountaineer's Route, however, involves skiing or traversing Whitney's north face, and this undertaking enters the realm of ski extreme, less for the steepness of the face than for the face's tendency to be covered in boilerplate ice.

There is also the small matter of the 300' cliff that awaits you should you tumble on Whitney's north chute.

Whitney does claim lives: climbers of varying experience attempt the Mountaineer's Route in all seasons, occasionally with tragic results. For this reason, skiers (and some hikers) are advised to turn back at the 'notch above the East Couloir, should conditions look remotely icy.

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