SierraDescents.com

Skiing Whitney!

I'm so excited—Whitney has eluded me since 2006, when I passed on skiing the Mountaineer's Route, figuring I'd get to it next season. Every year since then, I've waited for the north chute (above the notch) to fill in...and waited, and waited, and waited

This year too, despite the record snowfall, many of the big north faces in the Eastern Sierra failed to fill in, including Whitney's north chute—alas. As I was resigning myself to yet another year of waiting, I suddenly wondered if maybe, just maybe, something else on Whitney's north face might be skiable.

So, back to Whitney Portal I went. Starting from Iceberg Lake, Trevor and I went up Iceberg col, then began traversing around the base of the north face, toward Arctic and Guitar Lakes. When we found what looked like a skiable line through roughly the middle of the north face, up we went.

I think of all my Sierra adventures this one is an instant favorite.

We did the whole route in one huge day, under changing light and alternately clear and snowy skies, and I don't think the interior Sierra has ever looked so good.

The north face proved steeper than I was expecting, and fairly complex, with an interesting choke section that passed through cliffs and slabs. Snow quality was quite tasty, not at all the scary ice I was expecting, and I skied right from the Smithsonian shelter atop the summit, thanks to a skinny ribbon of snow that wound its way across the summit plateau.

Outstanding!

— May 23, 2011

Andy Lewicky is the author and creator of SierraDescents

Jeff S May 23, 2011 at 1:06 pm

Andy, you're having an epic season! I'm so jealous!

tim May 23, 2011 at 3:40 pm

Wow. That's a super cool line. Well struck!

Dan Conger May 24, 2011 at 10:25 am

I'm jealous, too. You're a rock-star!

Colin May 24, 2011 at 12:31 pm

Andy, you're famous!:

http://live.tetongravity.com/_Video-Sierra-Descents39-Andy-Lewicky-Skis-Mount-Whitney39s-North-Face/blog/3670607/75233.html

Michael B May 24, 2011 at 12:37 pm

stellar...absolutely stellar! Job well done.
ENVY.

Michael May 24, 2011 at 3:33 pm

Wow thats awesome Andy! It looked like quite a dramatic day for light and weather too. I have been meaning to tell you also that the new pano format photos on the site look great.

Scott May 24, 2011 at 6:44 pm

Nice. Very nice. That is some bitchin' ski mountaineering right there.

Marc May 26, 2011 at 2:09 pm

Andy, can you give any pointers as to how you found this chute? Is it further south of the Mountaineer's Route after the notch? I'll be there this weekend and it looks like an awesome line....

Andy May 26, 2011 at 3:44 pm

Marc,

We skied pretty much in the center of Whitney's north face--there was a narrow bit of snow that led through the cliffs/slabs. Do not attempt to ski the face from above (ie, via the MR). Begin at Iceberg Col (not the notch), traverse below the north face toward Guitar Lake, and look for a line that is climbable/skiable.

It was steeper than I expected and exposed. If it's at all icy, save it for another day.

Marc May 26, 2011 at 10:55 pm

Yeah, I'm a little concerned about icy conditions because the winds around supposed to be howling today and tomorrow, but calmer Sunday and Monday. I'll just have to call it when I get there. If not this weekend, I definitely know where I'm heading next year... Thanks for the beta!

Kuangkai October 20, 2011 at 4:32 pm

What kind of ski boots/crampons/skis did you use? I wanna go!!

Andy October 20, 2011 at 8:07 pm

K, a complete gear list is here

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