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07-24-2015-West Face
General Conditions
The West Face via Hidden Valley is in poor shape. Much of the route is melted out. This means a scrambles on loose rock, one step up, two steps back. Some sections like the top of the West Face are steep, and all while knocking rocks down onto potential climbers below. The ridgelines of the WF are exposed. We advise to pick a different route or come back next year! The trail getting over to Hidden Valley is melted out. The trail begins on the west side of Horse Camp and is easy to follow to the mouth of Hidden Valley. Talk to the Horse Camp caretaker if you have any questions on where to start! While the West Face is in poor shape, the approach hike to Hidden Valley is spectacular and a great day hike for the summer and fall months. Take a lunch and spend the day out in one of the more rarely visited areas of the mountain.
Camping in HV can be notoriously windy. Anchor your tent well. Water is not available. Dry camping is available in HV. Fill up water at Horse Camp and bring extra fuel to melt snow. Once all the snow melts, water will be increasingly harder to find.
The route from Horse Camp to Hidden Valley is one long, slow ascending, climbers' left traverse. If you ascend too high, you'll have to descend into HV. If you ascend too low, you will have to climb up near the mouth of the valley. Where most people get into trouble is upon the descent. Climbers have a tendency, especially if skiing, to descend too low, too fast. If you do this, you'll end up in either the Sand Flat area or more than likely, in Cascade Gulch somewhere. While you'll come out eventually onto the Everitt Memorial Highway, it will add miles to the end of your trip and postpone the delicious brew that may be waiting for you. Getting off route is most common when the trail is covered in snow, not the case currently.
The West Face Route tops out near the bottom of Misery Hill, commonly referred to as the "Upper Mountain." During white out conditions it can be very difficult to find the descent route to the top of the West Face. This has caused numerous search and rescue incidents. It's very easy to wander off the WRONG side of the mountain. The Whitney Glacier and many other routes all converge near Misery Hill and the Summit Plateau. You may quickly find yourself in glaciated terrain which is not good if you are not prepared. Pay attention, don't climb into a white out, know your route.
