Both the Disappointment Cleaver and Emmons/Winthrop Routes have been changing, almost daily, due to shifts in the glacier. The high freezing levels and uninterrupted sunshine have been cooking things on the upper mountain. Both of the most recent blog posts for these routes outline the gist of where the route goes and what to expect, but be aware that it can change at anytime. We encourage climbers to start early on these warm days and stick with an early turn around time to help avoid being in the most hazardous areas during the hottest part of the day.
The weather forecast has a bit of a blip coming up this Friday and Saturday:
.FRIDAY...Sunny. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Snow level near 12500 feet. .FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of thunderstorms and snow showers in the evening, then a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Snow level near 12500 feet. .SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of thunderstorms and snow showers in the afternoon. Snow level near 12500 feet.
Be cautious ascending high on the mountain with thunderstorms in the forecast. They often move over the mountain faster than climbers can descend and can cause a potentially dangerous situation. Don't climb up into a thunderstorm and if you see thunderstorms approaching the mountain or beginning to build nearby, consider descending back to camp or the parking lot. It's best not to be the tallest thing out on a wide open snowfield.
July has flown by! It's starting to be a bit quieter on the mountain, but we still encourage folks to come during the weekdays if possible to avoid the crowds. Talk to the rangers when you register for your climb about the latest in conditions. See you on the mountain!
