Quick report
Climbing/Snow Conditions Observation: Route: My partner and I climbed from Bumny Flat TH to Cascade Gulch to Hidden Valley, then up to the Shasta/Shastina saddle and down to Whitney Glacier to summit plateau, descending Avalanche Gulch. No signs of recent avalanche or instability. We experienced generally supportable snow for boot-packing at night/early morning hours from 6,800 to 11,800. Surface texture was smoother (including some corn snow) in Cascade Gulch compared to Avalanche Gulch. Whitney Glacier showed a thin snowpack, with a wind-scoured Whitney/Bolam ridge, exposed crevasses, and much blue ice along the middle and upper ice falls and throughout the central glacier. Whiteout weather conditions experienced by 11am above 10,000’.