A photographic guide to hiking Mt Whitney, explaining all of the features you will pass with pictures. Check it out.
“You can summit Mt Whitney in a day,” they said. “It’s a class 1 hike,” they said. Add to that the claim that it takes 10 hours to hike up at a “slow” pace…
What gear should you bring on a 22-mile day hike? My Mt. Whitney gear list included a water filter, snacks, headlamp and more.
Apply for Mt Whitney permits through the lotto system from Feb 1 - Mar 1 so you can hike from May - Nov. Read my tips to help you get a permit
I am not an extreme athlete or even call myself an athlete, but I needed training for the Mt. Whitney day hike. Here’s how I did it.
Fair warning: Two of the quotes in this article are…creatively applied. They’re close, mind you, but a little off from their original intent. They came to me on the climb, though, so maybe I can blame it on the altitude? On our way up the Whitney Trail, looking back at sunrise in the canyon below. Backing up, a friend and I climbed Mt. Whitney in mid-October and it could not have gone better. We trained and acclimated for two full weeks prior to the climb, and when the day arrived, the weather gods supplied clear, sunny skies with no storms on the horizon. The 22-mile climb took us 12 hours, from 6am to 6pm, and though tired at the end, we suffered no injuries or lasting ill-effects. Looking back, it seems insane, both that I did it (I’m not terribly adventurous and can be pretty risk-averse) and that it went so swimmingly. Karen, my best friend and hiking buddy, gets all the credit for our success, but we’ll circle back to her later. First, the dark side of Whitney. Making our way up as the sun is rising, gradually lighting the peaks ahead. If you Google ‘mt whitney accidents’ the search returns pages of failed climbs, serious incidents, and tragically, numerous deaths. One of those fatalities occurred the day of our climb. Less than two hours into our hike, a descending hiker shared that a man was believed to have wandered off the trail in the night; search and rescue had been contacted but we were to keep alert for signs of the missing hiker. As the day progressed, we heard bits and pieces of confused information and witnessed helicopters circling and searching. On the descent, we received word that the hiker had died and his body had been recovered. It was a sad and sobering experience that brought to mind a quote from Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear which I was reading at the time. In the book, Gilbert describes “the central paradox” of art: My creative expression must be the most important thing in the world to me (if I am to live artistically), and it also must not matter at all (if I am to live sanely). Art is absolutely meaningless, and also deeply meaningful. It is nothing, and yet it is everything. I think the same can be said of Mt. Whitney. At the end of the day, it’s just a hike. It’s nothing. And yet on that day, to one man - and to his friends and family - it was everything. My heart goes out to them. To learn from this tragedy and others like it, perhaps we, as aspiring climbers, should view training as everything - the most important thing in the world - but the climb itself (and the goal of peaking in particular) as nothing. As 38 Special warns: Just hold on loosely But don’t let go If you cling too tightly You’re gonna lose control The best laid plans go awry, and circumstances can change quickly on the mountain. Climbers have had to abruptly alter plans for myriad reasons including weather, altitude sickness, injury, fatigue, and time (not enough of it left before dark). If we hold goals and expectations loosely, perhaps it’s easier to make the safest decision in the moment, both for ourselves and our hiking party. If we have to turn back (or hunker down for an uncomfortable night): “It’s a bummer, but hey, you’re still alive.” And now, the lighter side of Whitney. That last quote was from the HikingGuy. If you read only one thing before hiking Whitney, read his Mt Whitney Hike article, and then read it again. It covers everything from planning and permitting to training and acclimation, and shares photos of the climb from start to finish. Fantastic resource. Karen on the brief cable-section of the Whitney Trail. And that brings us back to Karen (my fantastic resource), who should seriously start her own hiking/guiding business. She’s deeply experienced with all facts of outdoor adventuring and can plan the heck out of a trip, adeptly assessing ability and crafting activities to suit. I didn’t actually need the HikingGuy article - I had Karen! An example of a "high consequence" area between Trail Crest and the summit. Overall, I was surprised at how much of the trail had stable footing and felt totally safe. Of course there was more than one “high consequence” area where a fall would end in disaster. On those parts, I just focused on the trail, hugged the inside wall, and never looked over the edge. I’d be hard-pressed to pick a favorite section of the hike, but the most memorable would have to be the last 1.9 miles from Trail Crest (where the Whitney trail meets up with the John Muir Trail) up to the summit. Expansive view at Trail Crest. I am standing at the Trail Crest (you can see the wooden sign in the foreground). Karen is continuing on the trail to Whitney summit. At this juncture, everything became exaggerated: the stunning view of Sequoia National Park to the west, howling winds that were oh so cold, a dirt trail that morphed into a pile of jumbled stone with steep drop-offs, and the longest 1.9-mile hike of my life! Other hikers concurred, with one guy lamenting his negative pace (ha!). That darned hut at the top seemed like it would never come into view, but when it finally did…zowie! Pure exhilaration that carried us to the top. Karen on top of Mt. Whitney. Yee-ha! A few practical details about our trek: Training We passed three guys hiking up Whitney and when they caught up at the summit, one said, “You two were moving! Did you train for this?” LOL. Yes, we did. We had the luxury of hiking and acclimating for two full weeks prior to the climb. I wrote about those training hikes in this article. Permit Since hiking in October, we didn’t have to contend with the Whitney lottery system. Plenty of permits were available, and we picked up a walk-in day use permit at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center the day before our climb. Entering the Whitney Zone, showing off our permit. Still don't need many layers, but that'll change! In 2016, there were 13,638 applicants requesting spots for 64,939 people to climb Whitney. Only 100 day hikers and 60 backpackers are allowed each day, so competition for permits can be fierce. This article from the Orange County Register shares insider tips on how to win Mt. Whitney lottery. Weather/Clothing I may not have read many articles prior to climbing Whitney, but I checked the weather obsessively in the preceding days and appreciated the detailed information from mountain-forecast.com with forecasts for multiple elevations. At the summit of Mt. Whitney. Windy and cold! I was wearing mittens too, but took them off to snap photos and video. The day we climbed, the summit was forecast for 25 mph winds and a high of 28 degrees F (about 14 degrees with wind chill) but it was 50 degrees at the start. I wore a dri-fit t-shirt and lightweight long-sleeve top at first, but later added a down coat, windshell, knit cap, gloves, and mittens. It was darned cold after Trail Crest (my hands suffered) but we warmed up at the top in a rock enclosure sheltered from the wind. There’s also a stone hut at the summit, but it’s dark in there and we had a brilliantly sunny day so opted to stay outside. Hydration Trail Camp Pond is the last good water source on the way up; we filled there on the way up and back. Hydration is key, and to be honest, I didn’t drink enough on the first half, a point that became glaringly obvious when I pulled out my hydration pack for the 2nd refill. For our conditions, I probably should have gone through 4–5 liters. It’s wise to track consumption and drink regularly. Hiking up. That's Trail Camp Pond at the far left, and Consultation Lake in the middle of the photo. Food We packed plenty of energy-dense snacks for the day, but it was a stroke of brilliance to carry the JetBoil for hot lunch and drinks at the summit. It was decidedly not brilliant, however, to bring a Backpacker’s Pantry meal to 14,500 feet: the cooking time doubles for every 5,000 feet so the meal would have taken an hour to cook! Ha! Luckily Karen also threw in some flavored Idahoan mashed potatoes. They were done almost instantly and warmed us up from the inside out. Karen showing off hot spuds in our wind-blocking rock enclosure. No view, but warm (well, relatively warm!). Wag Bags If nature calls during your Whitney climb, you have to do your solid-waste business in a wag bag, and pack it out. At least you’re supposed to. Throughout the day, we saw a bunch of filled bags resting just off the trail. I was hopeful that hikers were planning to pick them up on the way down, but most were still there on the return. Yikes. There’s no wag bag fairy - gotta pack it out! In this one instance, we did not have to come prepared; the rangers gave each of us a wag bag when we picked up our day use permit. If you dream of climbing Whitney, good luck, be safe, and enjoy! When planning the trip, this HikingGuy article is a helpful resource, as are these two documents from the Forest Service: Mt. Whitney Trail Hiking the Mt. Whitney Trail The Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center (760–876–6200) can provide up-to-date conditions and information. Mt. Whitney was the hardest hike/climb I’ve ever done given the single-day altitude gain and total mileage. It was an awesome accomplishment, and I’ll be forever grateful that Karen gently nudged me out of my comfort zone and set us up for success with her outstanding planning (training included). Thank you K - you’re the BEST!! This article is one of many written about a 3-week road trip spent hiking and camping in the Eastern Sierras and Death Valley. To see all articles, check out this trip summary. Whitney Trail map with path highlighted in yellow. A few extra photos: A tiny slice of Sequoia National Park Longest 1.9 miles of my life! The hut at Mt. Whitney summit. The Whitney trail register. Go Army, Beat Navy! Warning sign at the Whitney Portal. Another warning sign at the Whitney Portal.
Tips and recommendations to help you train and prepare for hiking Mt. Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48!
My original Mt. Whitney Alpenglow painting on a vintage topography map is a vertical/portrait image available in the following options: Matted Prints: -5x7” print in 8x10” mat (some cropping of the image occurs to fit this size) -8x10” print in 11x14" mat -12x16” print in 16x20” mat Matted prints are quality matte archival prints and come signed with cardboard backing in a protective plastic sleeve. Mat sizes are easy to find standard frame sizes. The image sizes are approximate and printed to fit the mat. If you plan to remove the mat, please contact me to make sure the image size will work for you. Giclee print: -16x20", 24x30" or 30x40". These giclees are a high quality fine art print on Somerset Velvet paper, a thick textured paper similar to watercolor paper. The size of the printed image itself and paper will be the dimensions you choose (full bleed). You may request an additional 1" white border in “notes to seller” when you checkout. I recommend framing these with a mat, and the sizes I sell are standard sizes you can easily find store bought frames with mats for. Additional framing recommendations can be found here: https://www.katiereim.com/framing Other sizes and options available upon request. © Final Switchback by Katie Jeanne Reim. All rights reserved. Please do not repost without permission and credit.
Art.com | We Are Art We exist so you can have the art you love. Art.com gives you easy access to incredible art images and top-notch craftsmanship. High-Quality Framed Art Prints Our high-end framed wall art is printed on premium paper using non-toxic, archival inks that protect against UV light to resist fading. Experience unmatched quality and style as you choose from a wide range of designs to enhance your room décor. Professionally Crafted Framed Wall Art Attention to detail is at the heart of our process, as we exclusively use 100% solid wood frames that include 4-ply white core matboard and durable, frame-grade clear acrylic for clarity, long-lasting protection of the artwork and unrivaled quality. With a thoughtfully selected frame and mat combination, this piece is designed to complement your art and create a visually appealing display. Easy-to-Hang & Ready-to-Display Artwork Each framed art piece comes with hanging hardware affixed to the back of the frame, allowing for easy and convenient installation. Ready to display right out of the box. Handcrafted in the USA. Scenic Art Why settle for blank walls, when you can transform them into stunning vista points. Explore from imaginative scenic abstracts to sublime beach landscapes captured on camera. The possibilities are endless. The painterly quality of our canvas creates an almost life-like panorama, so you can enjoy your favorite scenery without leaving home. Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night is one of the most renowned scenic masterpieces. Other famous landscape artists and photographers include Georgia O'Keeffe, Ansel Adams, and Claude Monet. Cultural Art Never lose touch with your roots or embrace a new culture with world art. Our collection will bring you closer to traditions, cultural, and even historical moments worldwide. Explore bohemian, Scandinavian, to tropical art without leaving your couch. Norman Rockwell, Monica Stewart, Frida Kahlo, Jean -Michel Basquiat are renowned for capturing culture with their art. Elevate your living space with our world culture masterpieces customized in our professionally hand-stretched canvas. The Print This photographic print leverages sophisticated digital technology to capture a level of detail that is absolutely stunning. The colors are vivid and pure. The high-quality archival paper, a favorite choice among professional photographers, has a refined luster quality. Paper Type: Photographic Print Finished Size: 8" x 12" Arrives by Mon, May 6 Product ID: 23423009452A
You’ve gotten the permit, now what? What will the trail look like? Where should you camp? How long will each section take?
This Mount Whitney Trail Guide is your A to Z resource on any and all things involving the Mount Whitney Hike. From day hiking Mt. Whitney to backpacking Mt Whitney, you’ll find everything you need to successfully summit and tackle one of the tallest peaks in the United States. A bucket list hike fo
Art.com | We Are Art We exist so you can have the art you love. Art.com gives you easy access to incredible art images and top-notch craftsmanship. High-Quality Framed Art Prints Our high-end framed wall art is printed on premium paper using non-toxic, archival inks that protect against UV light to resist fading. Experience unmatched quality and style as you choose from a wide range of designs to enhance your room décor. Professionally Crafted Framed Wall Art Attention to detail is at the heart of our process, as we exclusively use 100% solid wood frames that include 4-ply white core matboard and durable, frame-grade clear acrylic for clarity, long-lasting protection of the artwork and unrivaled quality. With a thoughtfully selected frame and mat combination, this piece is designed to complement your art and create a visually appealing display. Easy-to-Hang & Ready-to-Display Artwork Each framed art piece comes with hanging hardware affixed to the back of the frame, allowing for easy and convenient installation. Ready to display right out of the box. Handcrafted in the USA. Scenic Art Why settle for blank walls, when you can transform them into stunning vista points. Explore from imaginative scenic abstracts to sublime beach landscapes captured on camera. The possibilities are endless. The painterly quality of our canvas creates an almost life-like panorama, so you can enjoy your favorite scenery without leaving home. Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night is one of the most renowned scenic masterpieces. Other famous landscape artists and photographers include Georgia O'Keeffe, Ansel Adams, and Claude Monet. Travel Art Art is the best way of seeing the world when travel isn’t possible. Explore our curation of travel art for a trip around the globe. See from tourist favorites landmarks–the Eiffel tower– to hidden gems like the breathtaking landscapes of Yosemite National Park. Whether you find a cozy reminder of home, your dream destinations, or even cool maps of the world, our handcrafted frames will give it the perfect finishing touch. The Print This photographic print leverages sophisticated digital technology to capture a level of detail that is absolutely stunning. The colors are vivid and pure. The high-quality archival paper, a favorite choice among professional photographers, has a refined luster quality. Paper Type: Photographic Print Finished Size: 18" x 24" Arrives by Wed, Apr 10 Product ID: 46922715062A
Existing as the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney is located in California and stands at a whopping 14,505 feet (4421
The Mt. Whitney day hike is challenging, yet rewarding and beautiful. Here is how I experienced each section of the trail.
Art.com | We Are Art We exist so you can have the art you love. Art.com gives you easy access to incredible art images and top-notch craftsmanship. High-Quality Framed Art Prints Our high-end framed wall art is printed on premium paper using non-toxic, archival inks that protect against UV light to resist fading. Experience unmatched quality and style as you choose from a wide range of designs to enhance your room décor. Professionally Crafted Framed Wall Art Attention to detail is at the heart of our process, as we exclusively use 100% solid wood frames that include 4-ply white core matboard and durable, frame-grade clear acrylic for clarity, long-lasting protection of the artwork and unrivaled quality. With a thoughtfully selected frame and mat combination, this piece is designed to complement your art and create a visually appealing display. Easy-to-Hang & Ready-to-Display Artwork Each framed art piece comes with hanging hardware affixed to the back of the frame, allowing for easy and convenient installation. Ready to display right out of the box. Handcrafted in the USA. Scenic Art Why settle for blank walls, when you can transform them into stunning vista points. Explore from imaginative scenic abstracts to sublime beach landscapes captured on camera. The possibilities are endless. The painterly quality of our canvas creates an almost life-like panorama, so you can enjoy your favorite scenery without leaving home. Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night is one of the most renowned scenic masterpieces. Other famous landscape artists and photographers include Georgia O'Keeffe, Ansel Adams, and Claude Monet. The Print This photographic print leverages sophisticated digital technology to capture a level of detail that is absolutely stunning. The colors are vivid and pure. The high-quality archival paper, a favorite choice among professional photographers, has a refined luster quality. Paper Type: Photo Finished Size: 16" x 24" Arrives by Sat, May 4 Product ID: 48202617774A
Existing as the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney is located in California and stands at a whopping 14,505 feet (4421
Some of my favorite conditions to shoot in: clearing monsoon weather over the eastern sierra (always brings the color and drama!). Am going through photo withdrawal, as I haven't been out shooting in several weeks--hope to remedy that very soon!
Greg Clure Photography
The Mt. Whitney day hike is challenging, yet rewarding and beautiful. Here is how I experienced each section of the trail.
Art.com | We Are Art We exist so you can have the art you love. Art.com gives you easy access to incredible art images and top-notch craftsmanship. High-Quality Framed Art Prints Our high-end framed wall art is printed on premium paper using non-toxic, archival inks that protect against UV light to resist fading. Experience unmatched quality and style as you choose from a wide range of designs to enhance your room décor. Professionally Crafted Framed Wall Art Attention to detail is at the heart of our process, as we exclusively use 100% solid wood frames that include 4-ply white core matboard and durable, frame-grade clear acrylic for clarity, long-lasting protection of the artwork and unrivaled quality. With a thoughtfully selected frame and mat combination, this piece is designed to complement your art and create a visually appealing display. Easy-to-Hang & Ready-to-Display Artwork Each framed art piece comes with hanging hardware affixed to the back of the frame, allowing for easy and convenient installation. Ready to display right out of the box. Handcrafted in the USA. Scenic Art Why settle for blank walls, when you can transform them into stunning vista points. Explore from imaginative scenic abstracts to sublime beach landscapes captured on camera. The possibilities are endless. The painterly quality of our canvas creates an almost life-like panorama, so you can enjoy your favorite scenery without leaving home. Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night is one of the most renowned scenic masterpieces. Other famous landscape artists and photographers include Georgia O'Keeffe, Ansel Adams, and Claude Monet. Cultural Art Never lose touch with your roots or embrace a new culture with world art. Our collection will bring you closer to traditions, cultural, and even historical moments worldwide. Explore bohemian, Scandinavian, to tropical art without leaving your couch. Norman Rockwell, Monica Stewart, Frida Kahlo, Jean -Michel Basquiat are renowned for capturing culture with their art. Elevate your living space with our world culture masterpieces customized in our professionally hand-stretched canvas. The Print This photographic print leverages sophisticated digital technology to capture a level of detail that is absolutely stunning. The colors are vivid and pure. The high-quality archival paper, a favorite choice among professional photographers, has a refined luster quality. Paper Type: Photographic Print Finished Size: 16" x 24" Arrives by Sat, May 4 Product ID: 23423011302A
Hiking Mt. Whitney is on the adventure bucket list for many outdoor enthusiasts. With an elevation of 14,508 feet, Mt. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the 48 contiguous US states. Mt. Whitney is a part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and its trail starts in the Inyo National Forest
Fair warning: Two of the quotes in this article are…creatively applied. They’re close, mind you, but a little off from their original intent. They came to me on the climb, though, so maybe I can blame it on the altitude? On our way up the Whitney Trail, looking back at sunrise in the canyon below. Backing up, a friend and I climbed Mt. Whitney in mid-October and it could not have gone better. We trained and acclimated for two full weeks prior to the climb, and when the day arrived, the weather gods supplied clear, sunny skies with no storms on the horizon. The 22-mile climb took us 12 hours, from 6am to 6pm, and though tired at the end, we suffered no injuries or lasting ill-effects. Looking back, it seems insane, both that I did it (I’m not terribly adventurous and can be pretty risk-averse) and that it went so swimmingly. Karen, my best friend and hiking buddy, gets all the credit for our success, but we’ll circle back to her later. First, the dark side of Whitney. Making our way up as the sun is rising, gradually lighting the peaks ahead. If you Google ‘mt whitney accidents’ the search returns pages of failed climbs, serious incidents, and tragically, numerous deaths. One of those fatalities occurred the day of our climb. Less than two hours into our hike, a descending hiker shared that a man was believed to have wandered off the trail in the night; search and rescue had been contacted but we were to keep alert for signs of the missing hiker. As the day progressed, we heard bits and pieces of confused information and witnessed helicopters circling and searching. On the descent, we received word that the hiker had died and his body had been recovered. It was a sad and sobering experience that brought to mind a quote from Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear which I was reading at the time. In the book, Gilbert describes “the central paradox” of art: My creative expression must be the most important thing in the world to me (if I am to live artistically), and it also must not matter at all (if I am to live sanely). Art is absolutely meaningless, and also deeply meaningful. It is nothing, and yet it is everything. I think the same can be said of Mt. Whitney. At the end of the day, it’s just a hike. It’s nothing. And yet on that day, to one man - and to his friends and family - it was everything. My heart goes out to them. To learn from this tragedy and others like it, perhaps we, as aspiring climbers, should view training as everything - the most important thing in the world - but the climb itself (and the goal of peaking in particular) as nothing. As 38 Special warns: Just hold on loosely But don’t let go If you cling too tightly You’re gonna lose control The best laid plans go awry, and circumstances can change quickly on the mountain. Climbers have had to abruptly alter plans for myriad reasons including weather, altitude sickness, injury, fatigue, and time (not enough of it left before dark). If we hold goals and expectations loosely, perhaps it’s easier to make the safest decision in the moment, both for ourselves and our hiking party. If we have to turn back (or hunker down for an uncomfortable night): “It’s a bummer, but hey, you’re still alive.” And now, the lighter side of Whitney. That last quote was from the HikingGuy. If you read only one thing before hiking Whitney, read his Mt Whitney Hike article, and then read it again. It covers everything from planning and permitting to training and acclimation, and shares photos of the climb from start to finish. Fantastic resource. Karen on the brief cable-section of the Whitney Trail. And that brings us back to Karen (my fantastic resource), who should seriously start her own hiking/guiding business. She’s deeply experienced with all facts of outdoor adventuring and can plan the heck out of a trip, adeptly assessing ability and crafting activities to suit. I didn’t actually need the HikingGuy article - I had Karen! An example of a "high consequence" area between Trail Crest and the summit. Overall, I was surprised at how much of the trail had stable footing and felt totally safe. Of course there was more than one “high consequence” area where a fall would end in disaster. On those parts, I just focused on the trail, hugged the inside wall, and never looked over the edge. I’d be hard-pressed to pick a favorite section of the hike, but the most memorable would have to be the last 1.9 miles from Trail Crest (where the Whitney trail meets up with the John Muir Trail) up to the summit. Expansive view at Trail Crest. I am standing at the Trail Crest (you can see the wooden sign in the foreground). Karen is continuing on the trail to Whitney summit. At this juncture, everything became exaggerated: the stunning view of Sequoia National Park to the west, howling winds that were oh so cold, a dirt trail that morphed into a pile of jumbled stone with steep drop-offs, and the longest 1.9-mile hike of my life! Other hikers concurred, with one guy lamenting his negative pace (ha!). That darned hut at the top seemed like it would never come into view, but when it finally did…zowie! Pure exhilaration that carried us to the top. Karen on top of Mt. Whitney. Yee-ha! A few practical details about our trek: Training We passed three guys hiking up Whitney and when they caught up at the summit, one said, “You two were moving! Did you train for this?” LOL. Yes, we did. We had the luxury of hiking and acclimating for two full weeks prior to the climb. I wrote about those training hikes in this article. Permit Since hiking in October, we didn’t have to contend with the Whitney lottery system. Plenty of permits were available, and we picked up a walk-in day use permit at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center the day before our climb. Entering the Whitney Zone, showing off our permit. Still don't need many layers, but that'll change! In 2016, there were 13,638 applicants requesting spots for 64,939 people to climb Whitney. Only 100 day hikers and 60 backpackers are allowed each day, so competition for permits can be fierce. This article from the Orange County Register shares insider tips on how to win Mt. Whitney lottery. Weather/Clothing I may not have read many articles prior to climbing Whitney, but I checked the weather obsessively in the preceding days and appreciated the detailed information from mountain-forecast.com with forecasts for multiple elevations. At the summit of Mt. Whitney. Windy and cold! I was wearing mittens too, but took them off to snap photos and video. The day we climbed, the summit was forecast for 25 mph winds and a high of 28 degrees F (about 14 degrees with wind chill) but it was 50 degrees at the start. I wore a dri-fit t-shirt and lightweight long-sleeve top at first, but later added a down coat, windshell, knit cap, gloves, and mittens. It was darned cold after Trail Crest (my hands suffered) but we warmed up at the top in a rock enclosure sheltered from the wind. There’s also a stone hut at the summit, but it’s dark in there and we had a brilliantly sunny day so opted to stay outside. Hydration Trail Camp Pond is the last good water source on the way up; we filled there on the way up and back. Hydration is key, and to be honest, I didn’t drink enough on the first half, a point that became glaringly obvious when I pulled out my hydration pack for the 2nd refill. For our conditions, I probably should have gone through 4–5 liters. It’s wise to track consumption and drink regularly. Hiking up. That's Trail Camp Pond at the far left, and Consultation Lake in the middle of the photo. Food We packed plenty of energy-dense snacks for the day, but it was a stroke of brilliance to carry the JetBoil for hot lunch and drinks at the summit. It was decidedly not brilliant, however, to bring a Backpacker’s Pantry meal to 14,500 feet: the cooking time doubles for every 5,000 feet so the meal would have taken an hour to cook! Ha! Luckily Karen also threw in some flavored Idahoan mashed potatoes. They were done almost instantly and warmed us up from the inside out. Karen showing off hot spuds in our wind-blocking rock enclosure. No view, but warm (well, relatively warm!). Wag Bags If nature calls during your Whitney climb, you have to do your solid-waste business in a wag bag, and pack it out. At least you’re supposed to. Throughout the day, we saw a bunch of filled bags resting just off the trail. I was hopeful that hikers were planning to pick them up on the way down, but most were still there on the return. Yikes. There’s no wag bag fairy - gotta pack it out! In this one instance, we did not have to come prepared; the rangers gave each of us a wag bag when we picked up our day use permit. If you dream of climbing Whitney, good luck, be safe, and enjoy! When planning the trip, this HikingGuy article is a helpful resource, as are these two documents from the Forest Service: Mt. Whitney Trail Hiking the Mt. Whitney Trail The Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center (760–876–6200) can provide up-to-date conditions and information. Mt. Whitney was the hardest hike/climb I’ve ever done given the single-day altitude gain and total mileage. It was an awesome accomplishment, and I’ll be forever grateful that Karen gently nudged me out of my comfort zone and set us up for success with her outstanding planning (training included). Thank you K - you’re the BEST!! This article is one of many written about a 3-week road trip spent hiking and camping in the Eastern Sierras and Death Valley. To see all articles, check out this trip summary. Whitney Trail map with path highlighted in yellow. A few extra photos: A tiny slice of Sequoia National Park Longest 1.9 miles of my life! The hut at Mt. Whitney summit. The Whitney trail register. Go Army, Beat Navy! Warning sign at the Whitney Portal. Another warning sign at the Whitney Portal.
This the big daddy, an 18 mile out-and-back trek that summits Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States. The trail averages 550' of elevation gain per mile and features two designated campsites along the way, the generally uncrowded Outpost Camp (10,360'), which is situated in a nicely sheltered meadow beside some running streams, and the much more popular Trail Camp (12,039'), an exposed, rocky field at the base of the infamous "97 switchbacks." At 6 miles from the trailhead and the highest possible place to camp, Trail Camp is considered the best site to acclimate to the altitude for overnight hikers. It is also popular to hike Mt. Whitney out-and-back in one day, but given the rigor and the length of the trail, a very early start from about 2-4am is recommended, as well as some prior training. From May-Oct., the trail is permit-only (apply by Feb. 15), and it is common to be denied a permit the first year one applies. Dogs are actually allowed on this trail up to Trail Crest (13,777'), but they may not be your best friend after the 97 switchbacks! Hiking poles are strongly recommended, as are multiple layers with at least one being wind- and waterproof, and definitely be prepared to purify or filter water along the way. The hike is strenuous, long, and the effects of the altitude can become intense, but the rewards are a panoramic, jaw-dropping view that stretches as far as the eye can see, as well as the joy of having achieved a true hiking milestone. As far as trails go in the lower 48, this is the ultimate natural high. Note: Dogs on leash are only allowed until the top of the 97 switchbacks, 2.5 mi from the summit.
A photographic guide to hiking Mt Whitney, explaining all of the features you will pass with pictures. Check it out.
Explore Acme Explosives' 492 photos on Flickr!
