Right, Defo pads, how much padding is up to you, New helmet def needed as said above about degrading and better technology now.
On the whytes climb, it can be a bit technical, the other week i saw people doing it without the helmets on! idiots! like said above there is rocks and sharp ones at that so dont be duped into thinking you dont need to pad up just because your on a climb!
In Feb when i was there i did Whytes on my hardtail, i was too focused on zooming up to the top not paying attention, i banged my bars on a rock that was jutting out from the left, luckily i just bruised the top of my hand, but if my bar end wasnt there i would of broken my hand for sure!
Any way enjoy your trip, Whytes is fantastic fun, and if you get time, do the wall as well, or if your feeling fit, do the W2