Mt. Whitney info wanted

C Bryant

C Bryant

Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
3,143
So my gf and a couple of friends want to hike Mt. Whitney and just received their reservation tickets... or whatever they are. I'm on the fence about it, as I have heard a lot of unflattering things about the mountain and the hike as far as being ridiculously busy and covered in garbage.

I want to hear what you folks who have done in somewhat recently have to say.

Lambertiana gave me some nice info on nearby peaks that would be just as nice to hike w/o all of the downside I have heard about Whitney.

Can any of you guys help me out?
 
I have done Whitney four times - once as a dayhike from Portal, once as an overnight from Portal, once on a five day trip around to the back side from Horseshoe Meadow, and once from the west side of the Sierras on an eight day trip, starting at Marvin Pass, going over Colby Pass to meet the High Sierra Trail at Junction Meadow.

Despite the crowds, it is a hike that everyone must do at least once.

I'm assuming your permit is for the dayhike. It's a long long day - 22 miles with over 6000' vertical up and then back down, and you start at 8300'.

There are a lot of people on the mountain, and my biggest problem was the presence of excrement under every rock in the Trail Camp area (at 12,000'). Be careful where you get your water. I would fill up at Outpost Camp, either at the small creek that comes in from the south before you get to Outpost, or at the stream on the north edge of Outpost (the stream that comes down from Mirror Lake). I would not take water from the main stream draining Trail Camp, which comes over the waterfall at Outpost Camp. Another good place to get water is on the switchbacks above Trail Camp, there is a snowmelt flow that crosses the switchbacks several times.

Start early, around 3AM, so you can summit early before any real danger of thunderstorms develops. Sleep high the night before, and if possible take a few hikes at elevation in the days beforehand. If you can't get a campsite at Portal, camp at Cottonwood Lakes or Horseshoe Meadows, where you can also do some nice warmup hikes at elevation.

Stay hydrated, and don't carry a lot of unnecessary weight. Good footwear is important. Sunscreen is a good idea.

When I did it as a dayhike from Portal, on the way down I kept thinking that I didn't remember it being so far.

And, contrary to almost all sources, the official USGS elevation of Whitney is 14,505'.

When will you be there? I will be going with a scout troop on a six day trip to Whitney starting at Onion Valley (Kearsarge Pass) during the first week of August.

Both times I have approached the summit from the west side, I have been on top by 8:30 or 9 AM, and there were only a few others on top. The crowd from Portal starts arriving around 9:30 AM. If you start at 12:01 AM on the day of your permit, you can be on top for sunrise and have it pretty much to yourself. Then you will pass the crowds on the way back down.
 
I think they are for the last weeks of July, I'll have to double check. Thanks for that.
 
Teaser pics - This is the view toward the summit as you get close:
Whitney2006398.jpg


View from the top, looking north:
Whitney2006401.jpg


And after doing Whitney, you will really appreciate the places without the traffic. If you are interested, I plan on doing this one again this year (you can see Whitney in the background):
Franklin2006143-1.jpg


It's not as high as Whitney (only 12,438') but the summit approach is a really fun boulder scramble:
Franklin2006111.jpg


This one gets visited about once a week in the summer, and I have never seen other people on it when I have been on top. And if you want a challenge and are up to a class 3 route, you can do a loop from the top to two more neighboring peaks, and those two get visited about once a year. I have done that loop once, and I might be convinced to do it again.
 
I did Mt. Whitney in July of 2000. I don't think the crowds were so bad or trail camp being so dirty. I slept at trail camp and didn't feel dirty or crowded. There were a lot of people but I was far enough that I didn't see or hear them from my tent. I think I was on top around noon and maybe 10 -15 people with me on top. I don't remember there being any water after trail camp though. I agree with John, this is a hike that you have to do at least once.
You can also do Mt. Langley which is pretty close to Whitney and a little over 14,000 ft.
For practice, I suggest you climb Mt. Baldy which is right in your neighborhood and a little over 10,000 ft.. I've done Baldy a couple times when I lived in LA. I thought it was almost just as hard as Whitney. If you go up the short route by the bowl, it's almost 4,000 ft gain in about 4 miles.
Have fun.. I wish I was still in shape to do all this... I really need to work out:o
 
I find the trail a pretty hard trek for about 50% of it. You gain altitude quickly with some lung splitting switchbacks. I've been to the top once several years ago, but hiked around the area and portions of the trail many times and usually encountered only a handful of people, sometimes nobody at all. Also didn't see any trash at all (unlike my local trails)
If you have the chance I say do it!
 
i am fairly new to hiking and backpacking... I really like it...
My wife and I went on a short backpacking trip to Henninger Flats with my nephew's boy scouts troop and it was fun...
they are doing Mt Whitney in August in 7 days and we were really excited of going with them but I think my nephew won't be part of the boy scouts anymore so we won't be able to tag along :(

So I am interested in this thread... i'd like to do Mt Whitney in a couple of days...
If you are able, would you give more information as to what needs to be done in order to backpack there... OP said he requested a permit (did not know about this)... So I am assuming I need to do this...

Where to camp? Where to go to get more information...???

And OP if you are planning to hike Mt Whitney, would you share your plans (as detailed as you can if you are ok with it of course :D ... )

Thanks...
 
Absolutely well worth doing once. There will be plenty of opportunities to hike in less populated areas later.

Been there twice, both times as day hikes from the Portal. The first time I only got about half way up the switchbacks before AMS made me turn around (I was VERY disappointed - flew in from TN to to Vegas, drove to the trailhead, and the next morning started up the mountain). The second time I camped at about 7700 ft for a week beforehand and did not have AMS problems. If you do the day hike from Portal, count on it being a very long day. Make an effort to be in shape.

There should be water above trail camp from the melting snow fields. I got water from a small stream that was not far from the lake, but it was above it and a bit away. Be careful of where you get water, and treat it.
 
Carspidey - The OP was fortunate to get a permit for the dayhike from Portal. They are done by lottery and there is a LOT of competition. But if you can get a permit, by all means use it.

It is much easier to get permits for longer trips starting elsewhere - Horseshoe Meadows, Onion Valley, and many locations on the west side in Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Those routes require multi-day trips, but are well worth it and are a much better way to approach Whitney. Depending on the trailhead, you would need to get the permit from Inyo National Forest or Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park. If you plan ahead and apply for a permit at the earliest date they are available (e.g., on March 1 for SEKI), you will probably get the permit.

If you go with your nephew's scout troop, we will probably meet on the summit. As part of the 100th anniversary celebration of BSA, many troops are planning to converge on the summit around August 6, starting at many different trailheads. That is why I am going with a scout troop that week.
 
I did Mt. Whitney a few years ago put together an audio podcast about my trip planning, preparation and trail conditions along the way to our successful adventure. It's a busy place but lots of fun. I'd definitely do it.


Here's a link to my podcast about the hike.

Mt. Whitney Podcast

I've done a whole bunch of hikes around the Sierra's and Southern California and put together shows about them too. I think you'd like them all. Check them out on itunes at Anthony's Audio Journal or check out my web blog

AAJ_Icon.jpg



Anthony's Audio Journal
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top