Did it again in 2014 and had a great trek. Don't think I'm in a rush to do it again... Too many other great Hills to climb. Pics updated from the 2nd trip. 2013 Review: I ended up doing this hike solo. After 2 years of trying to win a lottery permit, my brother who was supposed to go couldn't and I ended up enjoy 4 days of solitude and one of the most challenging experience of my life. I went up on a Friday. Staying at Whitney Portal is the way to go. Used as a base where I camped, cooked and relaxed, had 2 acclimation hikes up the before my big 17 hour monster the following Monday. Every afternoon I saw the thunderheads coming in and heard from several people of being caught in the storms. I originally thought I would start at 4am, but with the storms coming in around noon each day, I decided to start at 2am instead. The day before my hike I relaxed, hung out at Whitney Portal and reserved my energy. Monday morning at 1am I awoke after 2 hours of restless sleep. The anticipation was palpable. I got my gear (readied before i went to sleep) and drove up to the trailhead. I was alone and it was pitch, I mean PITCH black dark, except for some random meteors and stars. With my headlamp affixed I was on the trail at 1:45. Hiking in the dark was an experience. The first hour I was aware of every sound and rustling, only imagining what critters or large mammals were looking at me as a yummy morsel. But after a while, I was relaxed and started to enjoy the solitude. Heading over the log bridge and the several streams was a balancing act in the dark. 4 hours later the sun came up and I arrived at my first major resting spot: Trail Camp at 12,000 feet. I felt great and was able to watch the sunrise cause the much pictured Alpenglow. Absolutely stunning. After a small snack, some advil and hydration, it was time to attach THE Switchbacks. Now most trails I've ever taken, including San Jacinto and Baldy all have switchbacks. But when a section of trail is referred to as THE SWITCHBACKS (some say 99, 104, whatever, there are many) you know its a serious challenge. It was on The Switchbacks that I hit my first bout of dehydration and elevation sickness. I knew what the indications were, I have felt it before and got in trouble on San Jacinto 2 years ago. So I stopped. Sipped Gatorade, ate a can of pasta and took some advil. After 45 min. I was feeling much better. After another 30 min. I hit TRAIL CREST. Now this maybe one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. On one side you are looking down toward the Owens Valley past Consolation and Lone Pine Lakes and you just turn around and you are looking down toward Sequoia National Park. It was amazing. Trail Crest starts at 13,600 and heading to 14,508 feet and the hike is far from over. The trudging along Trail Crest was painful, the air was thin and I saw several people turn around due to elevation sickness. Don't assume that because you can ski at 11k that you can handle 14k. It's a whole different ball game. After another 90 min I made it the Smithsonian Hut, signed my name, took a few pics and some video and then I had to get the hell out. It was only 10:30 am and the mist and Thunderheads came in with a vengeance. youtu.be/BG6SkMEftJQ On the Trail Crest heading back the hail came down like rocks. Now loose talus is made of granite, and when wet, it's like walking on slickery ice. One of my trekking poles got wedged under a rock, and I fell... HARD. With a bloodied hand and lower oxygen, the blood didn't stop. It was very wet and all my bandages were not sticking. Finally after an hour I was able to stop the bleeding. For a moment I thought I was in trouble, but I didn't panic, I had a good first aid kit with me and I made it back to the Switchbacks. The descent was painful and I was walking like a zombie. I met some people on the way down and everyone was friendly. I made it back to the Portal at 7:30 pm and went back to the campsite where I literally passed out on my sleeping bag. Here is my suggestions to anyone thinking about doing this... DO IT! But get prepared. Not only do you need to train by doing some serious elevation hikes, hit the gym and plan it out. Know the trail before you go. Also, make sure you have all your gear. Get good trekking poles with shocks. Your knees and feet will hate you. The final quarter of the hike is just pain. Work in good hiking boots months before and make sure you have a decent first aid kit. Of course plenty of water, (I use a steripen) food and layers of clothes. You can see my hike (minus the descent) here: youtu.be/BG6SkMEftJQ Good Luck! read more

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Oh Mount Whitney how I love thee... You make me climax, moan, and leave me breathless. You are thrilling, peaceful, and beautiful. You make me want to scream on your peak You stroke my senses and stroke them some more. Oh Mount Whitney how I loathe thee... You leave me sick, moaning, and.breathless You are painful, relentless, and a beast. You make me want to puke on your peak. You kick my ass and then kick it some more. read more

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The BIG ONE in ONE DAY! A painful hike (for me especially going down) but ITS ALL WORTH IT! We started at around midnight & our couple group (Mimi&Justin) was an hour ahead, Betty came 2nd, Mike 3rd, me & Boon came in last. No one experienced AMS but I twisted my back and have to ditch my backpack above consultation lake. All I can say is - I am mentally prepared for this - with only 3 hrs of sleep, back hurt so bad every time my left foot touched the ground, I made it to the top, (even with a negativity remarks that I should turn around) and came back down to Whitney Portal in about 24 hrs. Better timing next time! No more carrying extra stuffs that I don't need! read more

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Labor Day - Day hike: We arrived early the day before and hiked up to 10K at Lone Pine Lake to spend the day then went back to the Best Western in Lone Pine; we probably should've given ourselves an extra day at altitude to adjust. We started the hike at 3:30 am next day; we'll probably shoot for 1 am next time. We had plenty of food, warmer clothing, 3L platypus and a filter. The hike up to trail camp was pretty easy. The 99 switchbacks weren't even bad. The altitude hit me after that: the last 4 miles/2,500 feet were a haze. I dropped my pack about 1 mile from the top; next time I'll have a better system for just carrying water and storm gear and will drop my pack a few miles earlier. The top was blown out with rain, hail and thunder so we took some pictures and headed down quickly. We soon learned that someone had just fallen or walked off the cliff near Mt. Muir so there was a lot of commotion. I felt less nauseous and sick as we went down but never felt all that great. The tree line was a welcome a sight. It took everyone from 14 - 20 hours going up and down the main trail. Beautiful pictures by Lone Pine Lake and of Guitar Lake off the top. AMS was a buzz kill but it was all worth it and we'll do it again. Make sure to drink plenty of water and eat even though you won't feel like it. read more

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Such an awesome trail. We hiked 3 miles up to the first lake. It was beautiful. Definitely worth it. FYI - If you plan to hike further or do an overnight you need a permit. read more

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Who dared me into doing this 22 mile hike to 14,595 feet in one day?! This was the most physically and mental challenging thing I've ever done. But boy am I glad I did it. This hike is not for the faint of heart. You need to prepare for this one. For starters you need permits. To get a permit you need to enter and win the local lottery to get them. Once you've got permits you should warm up with some high elevation hikes to acclimatize and overnights to avoid altitude sickness. Aside from that bring at least 3 liters of water and lots of high carb snacks. read more

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What can I say? I have mixed emotions, but overall if you are able to hike this trail, do it! It is by no means easy, but it is rewarding on so many levels. I did not train for this( surprisingly) and I just went because someone else who was originally going to go could not make it. Maybe not knowing how hard it was helped me out! I brought my music and sang as I continued to walk and walk. The altitude after the switchbacks really got me drowsy, but thankfully electrolytes and my will helped me reach the top! I went on July 5th( 2011) and there was still snow almost reaching the summit. The views are surreal from the all the way on the top and everything in between. read more

Permit date: July 8-9, 2017 Temperature throughout hike: High of 70s, low of 50s Starting pack weight: 45 lbs Campsite: Trail Camp Time of departure from Whitney Portal: 4:05am Time of arrival to Trail Camp: 11:20am Time of departure from Trail Camp: 4:35am Time of arrival to Trail Crest via the chute: 7:50am Time of arrival to the summit: 11:10am Time when arrived back to Trail Camp to pack up: 3pm Time of departure from Trail Camp to Whitney Portal: 4pm Time of arrival to Whitney Portal: 8:50pm What an experience! It still feels so surreal that we actually did this hike. We have been preparing for this for months, and no amount of preparation would've helped us going up the chute (more on that later). We started off at Whitney Portal (where we camped the night before) at about 4am. The first part of the hike just includes a whole lot of switchbacks. There are maybe about 8 river/water crossings, but the second one is the hardest (maybe about 1/3 of a mile from Whitney Portal). The water is freezing, you will get wet, and the current can be a bit strong. Use your trekking poles! Side note: I've always just walked into the water with my boots and socks on, and have never gotten a blister from wet feet. This is my second 20+ mile hike with wet shoes/socks and I've never gotten blisters, it'll just feel cold and a little squishy for a bit. The majority of the hike is pretty straight forward. Clearly marked signs. The incline was pretty gradual. Many parts are quite rocky, so make sure you have good hiking shoes on (preferable with ankle support). Right before you reach Trail Camp, you will need to cross a few snow fields. We were totally find with just our trekking poles and boots (no crampons or micro-spikes needed here). Trail Camp isn't as bad as what everyone says. We were there on a weekend, and we weren't really bothered with the noise. We found two great campsites right next to each other for our group. Sadly it is true that there were wag bags left everywhere, so it did smell a little in certain places. But there's a great water source there! We decided to climb up the chute the next morning instead of taking the switchbacks because most of the lower part of the switchbacks were still covered in snow. So you had to climb up part of the chute anyway. Plus, it took some people about 6-7 hours to get up on the chute.. no thanks! However, if you decide to go up the chute, ice axes and crampons are a MUST. You can easily rent them in town for pretty cheap, but you MUST HAVE THEM. I also recommend to start as early as you can - like 2am or 3am because the later you wait, the slushier the snow will get from the warmth and it will be much more difficult going up the steep parts (max incline of 39 degrees). Once you get to the top of the chute, it's the most amazing feeling ever. That was probably the hardest part of the hike! But it ain't over yet! It's another 1.9 miles to the summit, and it's probably the hardest/longest 1.9 miles of my life. The trail just kept going and we were definitely feeling the altitude here. We barely spent 10 minutes up top and had to descend immediately because it was starting to sleet and we just felt sick. We also took the chute down, which was super scary, but also really exciting and fun. It only took us maybe 20 minutes to get down? Seriously, make sure you know how to glissade down with an ice axe. Overall, this hike offers some spectacular views. You really do feel like you're on top of the world here, but there are still beautiful 14,000+ ft mountains all around you. We trained about 6 months for this hike - lots of weighted step ups, squats, dead lifts, and running. Make sure you weight train your upper body! It's truly an amazing and surreal experience. Helpful tips: - Arrive a day early and DRIVE to Horseshoe Meadows (about 30 miles/~1 hour drive from Whitney Portal) to acclimate. The elevation there is 10,000'. You can hike around there too. - Bring mosquito spray! They were everywhere and you cannot escape them. - Bring a rain jacket/outer shell. The weather truly is unpredictable up in the mountains. - When setting up camp, if you decide to leave your belongings on summit day, make sure you leave your tent opened! Marmots and chipmunks will chew through anything if they smell food. However, if you leave your tent unzipped, they will just come in, sniff around, realize that there's nothing there for them and will leave your stuff alone. - Bring an extra WAG bag or two - yes, you will need to pack your poop out. Or just take Imodium! - Make sure you hydrate and eat constantly! Bring ibuprofen. Energy/caffeine chews or Bloks were super helpful. - Take a few classes at your local REI on how to prepare for this hike. We learned a lot of helpful info and tips/tricks through these classes, and people are always willing to share their experiences! read more

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As many of the reviewers pointed below, Whitney is not for the faint of heart. However, with MUCH preparation and mental fortitude anyone can summit Whitney! If you get anything out of this review, the one thing I want you to remember is "One foot in front another." My review will solely be on summiting Mount Whitney in a day and assumes you are doing it in the summer My stats: Started at 3:20 AM. Summited at 1:00 PM. Headed down at 1:30 PM. Hit the bottom of switchbacks at 5:00 PM. Finished hike at 8:00 PM. (3:20 AM - 8:00 PM) PREPARATION: To prepare for Whitney, I did the following 3 hikes and they more than prepared me sufficiently. I would do these hike in this order so that Mount Whitney won't seem as challenging. 1. Mount Baldy - will help you see how well you can handle high elevation and elevation gain. 2. Half Dome - 16 miles will help you build stamina for the long 22 miles 3. Cactus to Clouds - this crazy hike is 23 miles long and has 10,400 feet of elevation gain. So trust me do this one and Mount Whitney will seem doable since it is 6,100 ft elevation gain. -Some people train by doing the SoCal Six Pack. Here is a website with the 6 peaks and info on those hikes: http://socalhiker.net/a-six-pack-of-peaks/ PERMITS: Yes you need them to dayhike or overnight. But there was no ranger that came to check my permit. To obtain a permit, please click this link: http://www.recreation.gov/wildernessAreaDetails.do?page=detail&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72201 -If you miss the lottery, you can copy the link above and on your left you will see Find permits. This is what I did since I didn't enter the lottery. -Once you get an e-mail that you have reserved your permit, you MUST go to the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center!!! There they will give you a physical copy of your permit. You will also get a WAG bag aka human poop bag. -Make sure to CONFIRM your group size between TWO weeks to TWO days before your hike. Otherwise you will have to pick up your permit 2 days before or they will release your permit. EQUIPMENT: -SUNSCREEN and HAT. A LOT of the trail is sun exposed.Remember snow and ice reflect the sun. -TREKKING POLES. Yes I used to be like "who needs trekking poles". But you'll sure be grateful to have them when on the way down when all you want to do is let gravity take its course and roll you down the mountain. -WATER: I only carried 3 L and that was sufficient for me on the way up AND down. There are plenty of water sources up until the end of the 97 switchback, so bring water treatment tools if you need them. Also continually drink if you can every 15 minutes as it helps if you suffer from altitude mountain sickness! -FOOD -Shoes with GOOD grip: I was able to get away with hiking in trail running shoes as there was barely any snow at the top and any snow I had to walk through was densely packed. I didn't need any microspikes or crampons as it was sunny and clear and no thunderstorms! -BUG spray: because the mosquitos here are HUGE and they will bite THROUGH YOUR CLOTHES -LAYERS: I only needed a light jacket and shirt even up to the top as it was gorgeous outside, but still bring them because the wind chill can cause things to get cold real quick. -HEAD LAMP: because you need to see the trail and not trip. HIKE itself: Personally after doing the 3 hikes above, the first 7 miles were a piece of cake. The scenery was gorgeous, the elevation gain was nice and slow, there were meadows that you can frolic in, and lakes/streams where you can imagine where those nature CDs get their sounds from. -Then comes to the 99 switchbacks. The first 45 you're like "Ok this isn't so bad I can do this." You reach the cables and think "oh is that all the switchbacks?" But no they keep going and by the time you get to the top of them you will congratulate yourself because the view is so darn great, but praying that a downhill is in the mix. -Then you get a brief respite from the constant uphill as you swing around a corner and see that the trail goes downhill and you think to yourself "HALLELUJAH." -You will then encounter a sign that says you have 1.9 miles from the top. And in your head you're like "Piece of cake 1.9 miles won't be bad." -But oh no my friend the last 1.9 miles will seem never ending. Why? Because at the beginning of it it's all going downhill so you're like "WINNING." But then you notice the trail starts going up again. And switchback. And you notice how high up people are from you and you realize with impending doom that you have a LONG way to go. So again repeat the motto in your head "one foot in front of another". Don't look up. Because you won't even see the summit until you're 0.3 miles away so don't discourage yourself. HELPFUL Websites: -Check out current trail conditions and whether need to bring microspikes/layers etc: http://timberlinetrails.net/WhitneyWeather.html -Mt Whitney weather: http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-Whitney/forecasts/3500 read more

If you've done more than a few day hikes around Los Angeles, it's just a matter of time until someone strikes up conversation of Mount Whitney, the highest mountain peak in the lower 48, at 14,505 ft above sea level. Forget about living a mile above sea level in Denver, this 3 times as high! After hearing many tales and first hand accounts of what to expect, I researched this hike probably more than any I have ever done. The red tape sucks, as in getting a permit via a lottery system held each March. Outside of that, it's a must do for any avid hiker, or bucket lister. The 22 mile round trip hike itself is not too daunting in itself. With a gain of over 6,000 ft, you average between 500 - 600 ft gain per mile with some flat stretches, which isn't too bad. The trail is popular and well traveled - you'll never not know where to go. The last 2 miles were the toughest for me, partially due the onset of acute altitude sickness, which slowed me down some. This hike isn't just something you wake and up decide to do. Preparation is key to not wanting to self terminate by the time you get to the top. Trust me on this, I had done at least half a dozen hikes between 10,000 - 12,00 ft and had never felt any symptoms of altitude sickness before. Everyone is different, but the majority of people will start to feel the affects of altitude sickness past 10,000 ft. Unless you're a Sherpa from the Himalaya's, you'll definitely want to put in some training hikes at higher elevation over 10,000 ft for some conditioning and to see how your body reacts to the lower levels of oxygen in the air. If you're doing the day hike and not camping out on the trail as an 2 day overnight trek, I'd recommend starting early in the morning (we started at 1am) so that you're making your way down the mountain by noon. The weather is notoriously accurate during the summer months in that the clouds will gather and start to rain, hail, storm, and lightning past noon each day. The trees don't grow above 10,000 ft or so, so if you're stuck in a lightning storm, you are probably the tallest thing and closest for any lightning in the area to strike. That being said, expect it rain at least a little at some point - bring a rain jacket and plenty of layers, as it gets cold during the early morning hours and at the top too. Going up the mountain, I didn't see much except a clear sky, shooting stars, and the Milky Way. By the time we arrived at the base of the "99 switchbacks", the sun was on the rise and all that we could see was a rocky, tree-less landscape. Eerily quiet and serene, but at the same time weirdly beautiful. Going back down the mountain during the day, it was nice to see a drastic change in scenery - alpine trees, lakes, waterfalls, you name it - all kinds plush wilderness that we couldn't see under the guise of nightfall. I'd recommend that if anyone has any inclination of conquering Mt. Whitney, go for it. Just keep in mind some basic preparation and it's not as daunting as you might have read or heard about to bag the tallest peak in the continental U.S. read more

Mount Whitney is one of the more serious hiking challenges I've ever approached; it needs to be treated with a LOT of respect. Way back in the Day, one of my Kamikaze college buddies first introduced me to the venue, and I got myself in serious trouble by doing just about everything wrong. No preparation, improper equipment, a terrible attitude, and no plan to speak of. We ended our hike early after a bout of altitude sickness sidelined us for three days in our tents just above the tree line... Years later, I learned from my mistakes and approached the challenge with proper respect and preparation. The round-trip is around twenty-three miles, and encompasses a six thousand foot elevation gain. When you reach the summit, you'll be at fourteen thousand, five hundred feet. That makes Mount Whitney the highest mountain in the contiguous United States, and puts hiking it on any respectable bucket list. If Mount Whitney ever makes it to your personal bucket list, here's what you need to keep in mind: - Acclimation at high altitude for several days before starting out is essential - Good meal planning is key - make sure you've ready for some high energy burns! - Bring the right equipment: layered cold weather gear, water filter, excellent hiking boots, and a well-stocked first aid kit - Mental preparation is just as essential as physical preparation. Plan a turnaround time, and completely familiarize yourself with the terrain you'll be covering and the weather conditions at the time of your trip Note: Regardless of how well prepared you are, a rain or thunderstorm may require that you cancel or postpone your ascent. Bearing all of the above in mind, you're in for the experience of a lifetime - EXCELSIOR! read more

I've been an avid hiker for about 20 years. I'll be honest, Whitney was never on my to-do list. I have no desire to hike K-2, Everest, Denali, you get what I'm saying. For whatever reason, at the beginning of this year I had decided that I wanted to hike Mt Whitney. My friend had tried for permits for the last 5 years and had been unsuccessful. He was ready to give up until I swindled him into applying again. Lottery opens on February 1 and ends on March 15 every year. We both applied. Thinking we would most definately get permits if we had selected days mid-week, we were totally bummed when we both received emails saying we didn't get the permits. Luckily I had a friend that won 6 permits and had invited us to join. Originally planning to do this in August since that is supposed to be the best time to go, we were pushed up two months to June 26. We followed the weather up until day of the hike, and we truly lucked out as there was only a tiny bit of snow left. We arrived at the trail head at 3 am with our headlights on, and hiked the first few hours in the dark, through some switchbacks, and over a log bridge (that was fun in the dark). You will come upon one of my favorite areas which was Lone Pine Lake, the lake itself was so picturesque, the surrounding trees added to the postcard effect. We were lucky enough to catch the sunrise here, and let me tell you, it was amazing. A permit is required passed Lone Pine Lake. You will then come upon Outpost camp, and for those contemplating doing this as an overnight trip, I would most definately recommend camping here instead of Trail Camp. It was cleaner and quieter more private. The trail from Outpost Camp to Trail Camp was pretty amazing. You will come across waterfalls, wildflowers, Mirror Lake and Consulation Lake (I love alpine lakes of any kind) and you will start feeling the elevation change here. Once you hit Trail Camp, you will for sure be feeling the elevation, and once I saw Trail Camp, I was so happy we did this as a day hike and not an overnight. It was packed with people. Tents everywhere, and marmots the size of a labrador. There were several WAG bags left out, it was really disgusting (PICK UP YOUR WAG BAGS YOU DIRT BAGS). The nice thing about Trail Camp is you can pump water here. Between Trail Camp and Trail Crest are the infamous 99 switchbacks. There is an area of cable railing, this is the only area we came across snow. And this is where I started feeling the elevation. My heart was beating so fast, even though I wasn't feeling any other symptoms. When we arrived at Trail Crest, a ranger was there checking people for permits. My advice to others, if you are with a group, make copies for everyone to have so if you get separated from the lead person, you will have a copy (not everyone hikes at the same pace at elevation). Trail Crest is where things got interesting. The terrain quickly changed and there wasn't a defined trail per se, it had some rock hopping involved, the view to the left was sepctacular. Trail Crest to the peak were the hardest miles for me. The air was so thin, my heart was beating so fast, but I still didn't have any other symptoms, thank goodness (preparing for hiking at elevation is key, there is no substitution). I was so happy to see the Summit Hut, I knew I was home free. Signed the summit log, took a few photos, met some PCT hikers, and then high tailed it down so would we miss any weather coming in (we were so lucky, we had perfect weather the ENTIRE day). Quick Stats: *22 miles RT *14,505 feet summit elevation * 6,140 elevation gain My first 14'er, and it just so happened to be the highest summit in the contigious U.S. I can check this off. Mountaineers route next time. Leave No Trace! read more

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Let me start by saying this hike is 'no joke.' We summited and completed the 22 mile RT hike in 14 hours, and wanted to share our experience and lessons learned. Weather: Saturday, August 15th, 2015; 60 at Portal, 66 High of the Day, High 50s at Summit. Guy wore: Lightweight hiking pants (REI) Dry Fit Tee (Nike) Medium weight jersey pullover (Arcteryx) Mid-high Waterproof hiking boots (Northface) Hiking socks Girl wore: Thin hiking pants (Columbia) SS 'swiftly' tee (Lululemon) LS 'swiftly' tee (Lululemon) Lightweight poly vest (Arcteryx) Snug beanie (for AM) (thirty two) Gloves (for rocks/ bouldering) *extra- didn't use: Arcteryx thick fleece pullover Observations: 1. Train. By no means are we serious hikers. We thought our active lifestyle (competitive marathons, surfing, paddleboarding, snowboarding) would be enough. After all, it's just walking, right? Wrong. Take this seriously, because it's tough. 2. Proper gear. Gear makes all of the difference. Don't think your can bring your Igloo cooler and a 16oz water bottle (we observed this). Make sure you have a proper pack that is well-fitting and snug; we loved ours - Northface and Gregory daypacks with hydration bladders. 3. Hiking boots. While we saw plenty of trail running shoes (low tops), our mid-high boots were the way to go, as the trail at points is really rocky - especially atop 99 switchbacks to the summit, and proper tread is key. At that point you're at 12,000 feet to 14,500, and you'll need your shoes to perform. 4. Socks. Bring an extra pair of socks to quickly change into at the summit for your trip back down. This makes a world of difference. 5. Iodine tablets. Bring these to fill-up at the lakes. We went thru 14.5 liters of water (2 people), but obviously did not carry that much. We saw a lot of people fumbling with pumps and filtration systems, but the tablets were much quicker and a packet of 30 tablets were smaller, cheaper, and compact for a day trip. 6. Make friends. There are plenty of people on the trail; make friends as it will help all of you get thru the experience. 7. Do research. Have a good idea about the trail; markers, milestones and water stops. 8. Headlamps are mandatory. Even if you don't plan to be on being in the trail in the dark, bring them just in case. We wanted to get started about 3:30am but it was closer to 4:45 when we hit the trail which meant headlamps for before sunrise and after sunset. It's a special kind of dark in the wilderness and no moonlight under canopy. 9. Altitude. Being avid Mammoth Season pass holders with 60+ days a season above 11,000 ft, we've never had issues with Altitude sickness. Whitney is different. Honor your body; mild dizziness, elevated heart rate and headaches can be serious. We tried to stay ahead of the pain and headaches with Advil BEFORE we started. It worked well as we had only minor effects of the altitude. Bring GasX (for bloating; altitude does a number on your gastrointestinal system), Pedialite (powder), EmergenC (powder) with electrolytes. Take Advil before you think you need it. 10. Sunblock. We brought SPF50 and applied 3+ times a day. While some sections are full canopy, most of the trip is in full sun. Don't forget Chapstick with SPF, and body glide - anywhere where 2 things rub together, will reveal opportunities for rashes and pain. 11. Mindset. We're the perfect example of the fact that you don't have to be a professional hiker to get thru this, because you can. Mindset, determination, proper gear and a little preparation (don't buy your boots the night before), makes this an incredible experience that anyone can overcome. read more

Mt. Whitney - Sunrise! - Hiking Near Me - Lone Pine, California

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Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would climb Whitney mostly because it wasn't something that was on my bucket list. Having said that, it is an experience that I will remember forever. I went with a group of guys who for the most part were avid hikers. Me? Well I'm able to walk and chew gum at the same time but that really is the extensiveness of my hiking experience. We got a wilderness day pass for September and drove up from the LA area in the afternoon. There are two ways up this mountain, the East face which is much more technical or the West side which is probably the most popular route. We set up camp at the Whitney Portal on the West side in order to get acclimated to the altitude as the Portal is above 8'000 ft. The night was restless with anticipation of what the next day would bring so none of us slept very well. We took others suggestions and were up by 3am, packed our gear and were on the trail head by 4am. It is much easier climbing up in the dark versus coming down in the dark. We were still under cover once the sun began to rise and there is some beautiful scenery along the way. That however soon changed as hit a certain elevation where you are above the tree line and you might as well be on the surface of the moon. While it's cool....it's not that nice to look at. The hike itself is extremely tedious as it is 22 miles in length with an elevation gain of approximately 6'000 from base camp. I didn't realize HOW tedious until we got to the switchbacks. I believe that there is 97-99 switchbacks however it felt as though there were a million of them. Now I get bored without action and I don't consider walking / hiking as action however I was damn determined to not let this mountain get the best of me. Once through the switchbacks, it is a climb to the summit of approximately 2 miles. This is the slowest 2 miles that I have and probably ever will experience in my life as the terrain gets a little more rugged and you have rocks and boulders that you will need to navigate around. You are able to see the summit right there however it feels as though you're walking and not making any progress at all. At this point, you're feeling fatigue and a possible headache because of the long day and the altitude change. Sounds fun doesn't it?? The summit is a little deceiving because as you're looking across to the other peaks, your mind will play tricks on you and it almost appears that the other summits are taller than the one you're on. If I hadn't signed the book at the summit or touched the plaque, I would have never believed that I was on the right peak. After a rest and several pictures, it was time to begin the descent and have to face those damn switchbacks once again. I found the descent to be be much more difficult than the ascent primarily due to the impact it has on your knees. I saw several people climbing with ski poles to absorb some of that impact. They were much smarter than me. We finally made it back to our base camp at 6pm, 14 hours after we had left. All of us were quite proud of our accomplishments until we spoke to these Europeans who climbed up the East face and back down in like 6 hours!! WTF???? This isn't the Sound of Music for God's sake! Anyway, I'm not going to let them burst my bubble. A few things to consider when doing this trek: *Bring lots of water. Believe it or not, there are not convenient stores along the way and you're on your own. *Bring lots of snacks and take a bite every 15-30 minutes. *Have the right shoes. Flip flops are a no no and do not go out and buy a pair of hiking boots the day before your climb. You need something that is broken in. *Have a light back back with some warm clothes. The temperature in the morning and at the summit is very cold. *Have some aspirin for the altitude. *Sunscreen!! Yeah, I always forget that one. All in all this is an experience that I will never forget. I don't believe I've ever slept as well as I did the night I conquered Whitney. read more

Too awesome. Super strenuous due to length and altitude. The whole hike lasted around 15 hours and left my right hip feeling like it was gong to pop out of its socket. Some highlights: -The views. Do you remember watching 'the land before time' , when Little Foot , Petrie and Spike finally get to their paradise after that long long trek? That is what it felt like to me. The views are uhhhhmazing and I am just really sorry that I did not think to bring a camera! Especially when you are at the top and look down at guitar lake. BREATHTAKING. -There is a point where you get up so high that you hike through snow, right before the switchbacks. You hike through woods, plains, rocky mountain-sides.... the terrain varies as you go. -You have to poop on the floor somewhere and then carry it with you in a super-sealed bag that they give you beforehand, all the way until you get back to the campsite. Wait that isn't a highlight, is it. -I almost got eaten by a bear because at 3 am when we woke up to start the hike, one of the peeps i was with forgot his backpack outside and a baby bear went and tore through it to get to his cliff gels. I didnt see the baby bear (it was too dark) so it got too close to me, about 15 feet. I ran into the tent screaming and trying to make as much noise as i could. That was scary! Semi-highlight. You have GOT to train for this if you want to see the summit. I wasn't able to because out of about 20, people kept dropping out and while there were 4 of us who were dead-set on making it to the top, the other girl started throwing up because of the altitude about 30 minutes before reaching summit. So regrettably, we went back. It didnt matter though. I had such an overwhelming sense of accomplishment after this hike, that it was worth the struggle, the baby bear, the poop in the bag, the aching old-lady hip. I have been itching to go back because this time I want to go all the way to the top, baby! read more

I'm EL CAZADOR and I've successfully climbed Mt. Whitney twice -- a 5-STAR adventure. Here's HOW, in a nutshell: 1) You may climb and return on Mt. Whitney in ONE DAY with a raffled day-hiker's permit -- forget it unless you are an ACE, conditioned climber - RECON! All others: Get in the LOTTERY (Feb 1-Mar 15) via US Mail application to the Lone Pine Ranger Station (check for Wilderness Permit procedure details at US Forest Service website) for a multiple-day, group climb Wilderness Permit. Know how many will climb with you and the day choices (it takes THREE days) for your application. Do not plan on climbing earlier than mid-July due to snow/ice on the trail and the summit. August - early October is ideal. 2) Use an EXTERNAL FRAME PACK only (with belted hip supports); own one or rent one at REI; internal frame packs = BACK TORTURE. Keep the load around 35 pounds or under; divide-up items like tent parts, meals, camp stove and cooking utensils among the climbers to keep the loads fair. There is no fire wood or campfires on the MWT (Mt. Whitney Trail); bring two backpacker stoves and enough fuel cannisters. A 3-season sleeping bag and inflatible mattress are essential -- you will sleep TWO FREEZING NIGHTS on the MWT. Take 2-man tents (two to a tent), freeze-dried foods, drinking water, plastic flashlights, water purifying tablets (stream water is available, but there's giardia infestation in the Sierra), layered clothing (including a parka and a cap for the night), your BEST climbing boots (not NEW boots; be sure to double-sock your feet each day to avoid blisters), aspirin or equiv. (attitude sickness), a fanny pack for the summit bid day, your meds (beware NOT to forget your prescript. inhaler), sunscreen, sunglasses, trash bags, etc., etc., -- BUT, be mindful of the load; go with small-light gear. Oh, and plan for the recent human waste removal rules; NO TOILETS on the MWT. 3) Camp at Whitney Portal Campground (7,800 ft elev.) the night before your first day's climb. Set an alarm for 3:30 am. You want to be on the trail very early so that you will find a campsite at Trail Camp later in the day; otherwise, Outpost Camp AINT NO FUN. Lock up your non-trail items in your car; put the car key on you in a safe place. Pack-up in the dark and GO! 4) Day One -- Climb to Trail Camp (12,000 ft. elev.), beginning at 4:00 am -- arrival in mid-afternoon (6.3 mi.); find an available campsite. Set up your tents, arrange your cooking equipment, purify some cooking and dishwashing water. Break out the playing cards. Eat and go to bed early. Sleep advice: Take a ripped-in-half paperback book to read; you will be in your tent and bag long before the sunlight stops shining. Strip DOWN to undies in your bag to keep WARM; sleeping in more clothing in a bag actually makes you COLDER. Keep stove fuel cannisters, quartz wristwatch, drinking water, and flashlight inside your tent near your bag at night -- otherwise, this stuff FREEZES HARD at night. TRUE. 5) Day Two --The SUMMIT BID Day -- Wake up at 7:00 am or so, eat a breakfast and clean-up your dishes and pans and put them away. No trash or human waste left, or you will be cited by a Ranger. Dress layered for warm and cold temps; you will experience both; wear your fanny pack for camera, water, food bars, sunscreen, aspirin, etc. Wear or tie around your waist your parka. Leave your packs at camp, your tents left unzipped and no food in the tents -- otherwise, curious campground marmots will chew into your tent to peek around inside for food. If it's a stormy day; DON'T CLIMB--too dangerous ('slippery when wet' and lightning strikes at the summit). Be on the Summit Trail by 8:30 am. A MODERATE climbing rate. Be careful for trail icy strips in the shadows; these can be dangerous. Hang on to stantioned cables when you encounter them; they save lives. Don't wonder off the MWT at the top of the switchbacks by error -- it's a long hike down to Guitar Lake and back. Be at the SUMMIT (14,497 ft. elev.) by Noon. Hang around at the top, see the stone storm shelter, take pictures at the plaque, shout "DRAGO!", for 30 minutes or so. Then, LEAVE the Summit NO LATER than 1:00 pm sharp. The longer to wait, the more risky the descent to Trail Camp. Water turns to ice in the shadows as the sunlight fades. You NEED to be back at Trail Camp at about the time the direct sunlight disappears behind the mountains. Cook dinner and clean-up. Crawl into your bag; pull out your paperback and read till dark; AH, SLEEP. 6) Day Three-- Break Camp and Hike Down-- Step 1: Make breakfast and clean-up your campsite of all trash. Step 2: Break camp. Step 3: Hike down to Whitney Portal parking lot (remember where you saved your car key); arrive mid-afternoon. Step 4: Drive into Lone Pine and have a cheeseburger, fries, and a coke at the Alabama Hills Cafe. Step 5: Drive home. Congratulations -- YOU DID IT, mi amigo! read more

Definitely worth it! My boyfriend and I stopped by on our way down from Mammoth and we had our own little photo shoot! Hardly anyone around, perfect scenery, clear skies. Though we didn't go all the way to the Portal (we wanted to capture the peaks of the mountains from farther out) it's worth a half hour stop (at least.) read more

An incredible adventure hiking to the summit of Mt. Whitney. High fitness levels guarantee neither success nor immunity from altitude sickness (AMS). Despite spending 2 of the previous 3 nights camping at 8,600ft as well as a short hike above 10,000ft, I had altitude issues while my hiking companion did not (with the exception of a slight headache). Genetic roll of the dice -- some people have problems with altitude, some don't, and you don't know which camp you fall into until you get above 12,000ft (sometimes less). Preparation that helped: -my distance running training -finding trail shoes that didn't turn my feet into a bloody mess -shockproofing my quads/hammies with eccentric training (steep uphill/downhill training hikes as well as stairway repeats) -knowing the signs & symptoms of AMS -testing out the exact hydration pack & clothing (including wool socks & silk liners) I'd be wearing on the hike to make sure they didn't chafe Essential during the hike: -drinking plenty of water and eating frequent small, high carbohydrate snacks -having a hiking companion who you trust will watch out for your well-being and help you through the rough spots -starting early (we started at 5:30am and got back to the Portal at 8:30 pm). We should have started an hour or two earlier. As it was, we began in darkness and hiked the last hour back in darkness. Fortunately, we were prepared with a flashlight and headlamp. -packing light, but being prepared for contingencies -sunscreen We had excellent weather -- bright blue skies with no threat of thunderstorms, but there was quite a bit of wind. I was grateful for my windblock fleece and my gloves, hat, and polarized sunglasses. Hiking poles were very helpful, especially on the descent. Lightweight hiking shoes with sticky treads probably would have prevented my 2 slips/falls on gritty/sandy granite rocks, but my strong/flexible ankles and NB trail runners were adequate (just barely). I had extreme dizziness/vertigo above Trail Crest, though no nausea or headache (took 600mg of ibu every 6 hours). The vertigo/dizziness didn't clear until we'd returned to the Portal, although it did abate somewhat the farther we descended from the summit. Wouldn't have completed this hike without the help and cooperation of my hiking companion, without a doubt. I'm glad I made it to the summit -- definitely an accomplishment I'll cherish. I'm even more glad that I made it back safely. Thanks to my experience hiking Mt. Whitney, I have an even greater respect for nature as well as my own limitations and strengths. read more

Most brutal hike of my life. I don't know what I was thinking when I decided to do it in one day. We started hiking at 3:40am and didn't get back to the car until 9:30 at night. Long but beautiful trail. Already planning on going back for a multi trip with my daughter. Can't wait! read more

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5 stars for being the highest point in the lower 48 states. The views at Trail Crest and the summit were breathtaking. And the marmots were cool. Don't let them steal your food though. Like others have said, start early, especially if you have to deal with snow or ice. As of July 5, 2009, there was still a little bit of snow on the switchbacks, the cable section, and the final portion of Trail Crest before the summit. Ice axe and crampons weren't needed, but that was only because a well beaten path was already made through the snow by previous hikers and you could literally follow in their footsteps. Things slow down to a crawl on portions of the trail covered with snow, and for good reason. Slip and you might be saying goodbye. Also, there's generally only room for one person to go across when the trail is snow covered, so you have to wait for the person to finish crossing if you are going opposite directions. Finally, make sure you can get past the snow covered portions before nightfall, otherwise the snow can ice up. All these things point to an early start, which generally means well before dawn. I didn't get to Whitney Portal until midnight, so I ended up sleeping in and didn't start until 6:45am. It turned out OK, but because I started so late, I was encountering a lot of hikers, mainly overnighters plus some dayhikers, coming down the mountain. And when this occured at a snow covered trail section, that meant waiting until they were finished crossing before I could go. By the time I reached Trail Crest, around 1pm, the wind was really blowing, probably above 30 mph. Afternoon storms are a common occurence on Whitney, and lightning or a sudden snow storm is a real danger. That's why it's often recommended to get off the summit before the afternoon. However, the sky was still clear, and the weather reports I read suggested that it was probably going to remain clear all day, so I pushed on. Reached the summit a little after 3pm, so it took me 8.5 hours to ascend Whitney. A lot longer than I was expecting. The descent was fine though, since I was one of the last ones coming down and didn't need to wait for people to pass. Took about 6 hours to descend, so 14.5 hours total to cover 22 miles with over 6100' elevation gain via the Mount Whitney Trail. Finished around 9pm using the moonlight to see my way. Bringing a headlamp and using it is recommended though. read more

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Truly a life changing hike. Very challenging and one of the most rewarding hikes we have ever done. Around every corner is a breathtaking view that makes you want to cry it's so beautiful and the pain you're enduring, lol! Absolutely amazing! read more

Mt. Whitney - Life changing hike! So beautiful!!! - Hiking Near Me - Lone Pine, California

Me and 4 friends took our time on this trip. We had permits reserved for 4 nights, but we took just 3 nights. Day 1: Drive to Lone Pine Ranger station, get permits, hike to Outpost Camp (10,400 ft) Day 2: Hike from Outpost Camp to Trail Camp (12,000 ft) Day 3: Summit, and back to Trial Camp Day 4: Climb down to the trail head by lunch. Victory beer! It was a relaxed pace for us. Well, the shocker here for many is that I gave it only 2 stars. I've climbed a few 14ers already, and Whitney is my 5th. Typical to all 14ers, it's an exerting climb, but stunning. The summits are beautiful, the trail up is scenic, all that stuff you read in the other reviews here. But relative to other 14ers, I was disappointed. I read that it was overcrowded, but I still underestimated the effects. Trail Camp was packed and so noisy I couldn't sleep. Several campers forgot their bear boxes or didn't properly use them, so food got scattered by wildlife. Litter was everywhere. You can't go 20 feet from trail without encountering a used wag bag or pile of feces from inconsiderate hikers. Using that damned wag bag and carrying it was gross. At camp, the rodents (chipmunks, field mice, pikas, and marmots) were overpopulated and obviously used to humans feeding them. Shoo-ing away these critters was a job in itself! I had to wait 20 minutes in line to get a photo of me by summit rock. The permit process is complicated and painful. These are qualities not shared by other 14er mountains. I'm glad I climbed Mount Whitney, it was worth the inconvenience. But 2 stars means "Meh. I've experienced better". and that sums it up, I couldn't have said it any better!! read more

I'm surprised there is only a few people who wrote a review of Mt. Whitney so I figured I owe it that much to put in my 2 cents. Camped out at the Whitney Portal Campground for 3 nights. Took a hike to Lone Pine Lake the first day to get familiar with the grounds. Spent a good couple of hours at Lone Pine Lake to acclimatize (elev. 9,900ft and change). The Whitney Portal Campground was I believe somewhere at 8,000ft. We were able to obtain another day hike permit for Saturday since my fiance already had a day permit (it sucks to do that whole lottery thing). Only 100 day hikers are permitted on the trail per day so as you can see, it's like a 50-50 chance. The hike itself was not tremendously difficult. We are lucky enough to not have to drive too far to hike up Mountains in the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and Angeles Forest so we used these experiences as "training hikes" to prepare up Whitney. Of course, we had the mindset that we were going to summit but let me tell you half way into the hike we were humbled on every step we took. I personally had a lot of respect for this Mountain especially since I know that there is a great chance this Mountain will probably be the tallest mountain I'll ever climb in my life (I'm hoping that one of these days I'll prove myself wrong on this theory). We wanted to overestimate the trek up Whitney so we decided to start our hike at 11pm. Yes, 11pm. I thought this would be way too early to start but as we gathered our packs We already saw a few scattered headlamps in the darkness. I guess 11pm wasn't too early after all. This was probably the best hiking/trekking experience in my life. i never thought I'd enjoy the cool and calm darkness. There was a warm breeze when we started but don't let that fool you. 1) The first few miles was not terrible at all. You encounter your first switchback past Lone Pine Lake. 2) Outpost Camp had a few campers scattered about so we treaded lightly with our trekking poles. 3) From here on out, it's ALL ROCK. 4) Weather gets very cold especially when you're hiking in the darkness and all you can hear and feel is the creek and the COLD breeze that it blows. 5) Bring a down jacket, I guarantee YOU WON'T BE SORRY. There were a few brave souls we saw at Trail Camp (Eleve around 12,000ft) who hiked up wearing nothing but a shirt. Don't take this chance otherwise, instead of altitude sickness, you might be forced to come down because of the cold...you really wouldn't want to come all that way and stop for something that is totally avoidable. 6) I forced my fiance to bring BEAR MACE: why? because a few hours before I encountered what seemed like a 400 lbs. black bear scouting our campsite This was enough to keep me paranoid the whole time we hiked in darkness BUT the bear mace was a great nerve calmer. 7) DO NOT underestimate the mountain. Better overestimate than under. 8) If you have to stop and rest...STOP and REST. If you feel that your heart is about to pound out of your chest, STOP and take deep breathes and calm your ticker down! Drink water SLOWLY not FAST. 9) Slow and steady will get you to the top. Our bodies acclimate pretty quickly and you're in no competition with the other people climbing the mountain. 10) Most important items for this hike: a great pack, great shoes, trekking poles and water or at least a steripen in case you run out. Overall, it was definitely an eye opening experience. We're hoping that next year instead of camping out at Whitney Portal Campground that we'll just camp out at Outpost camp or Trail Camp. Much luck to anyone who attempts to hike this mountain and congrats to those who have summited! One more thing: altitude sickness (especially that this elevation since Whitney is actually now said to be hovering at 14,500ft) is LISTENING TO YOUR BODY. Help is HOURS and HOURS away, if you cannot go on STOP. There will be other days, Whitney is always up for your challenge. Just don't call the bluffs. Happy trails! read more

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Mount Whitney, I'm preparing myself to challenge u again! Last time I only met u at 12,000 ft, bc I didn't acclimate first. This time, I'll. And I will bring my Tenzing Norgay. read more

Came up with a few friends and decided to try out the trail, we went up for about 4 miles and if you stay active its pretty easy and trails aren't steep. I definitely want to try to hike it all the way next time. read more

Mt. Whitney - Hiking Near Me - Lone Pine, California

With the proper mindset and plenty of training, YOU can do this. If you plan on making this unforgettable hike here are the 8 tips that I learned as a first-timer. 1. Train, train, then train some more. Sure, this hike is not technical (no ropes) but you need to get your body used to being on your feet for hours and hours. Start small, say 5 to 6 hour hikes and work up to 10-12 hours with elevation. If you can summit San Gorgonio, you're about ready. 2. Don't buy cheap gear. Good gear is expensive for a reason, it lasts. Most important is your boots and base layer (underwear). Also, try your new gear out with a few overnight local trips. My first cheap tent broke and I then bought a real one from REI. 3. Eat and drink a lot a week before the trip. I drank twice as much as usual and mixed it with Emergen-C. 4. Stay a few nights. Most people want to tackle this in one day but they miss the forest for the trees. Take a few days off work and enjoy this area by camping out. Stay at Outpost Camp, not Trail Camp. 5. Keep your group small. Chances are not everyone will summit so that means you may be the one bringing them back down. 6. Food is heavy, don't bring more than you need. Also, bring a water filter. There is no need to lug a ton of water up the mountain. 7. Take at least two cameras. One for pictures of you and one for your partner. 8. Enjoy yourself whether you summit or not. It's the journey not the destination and the mountain will be there next year and the year after that. read more

From one newbie hiker to another, Mt. Whitney is not to be taken lightly. My 64 year old father talked my brother and I into doing an overnight hike up to the summit. I'm in pretty good shape, but was fighting the flu two weeks prior. We stayed at The Trails before waking up at 4 am to head to the Portal. My pack weighed in at 33 pounds on the Portal scale. Up we went, arriving at Trail camp around noon. The trail is beautiful, crossing creeks and meadows along the way. For an Angelino, these views are breathtaking. We stayed at trail camp all day and overnight. It was clean enough for me, but you are definitely around other campers, with potty break spots a little too close to camp sites. It was very cold at night, dipping into the 30s. Ascending Mt. Whitney the next day was challenging and you wee rewarded with postcard worthy views all along the Crest Trail and of course at the Summit. The Summit was incredible and well worth any pain you may feel along the hike. Coming down was really tough on the feet beginning at the 97 Switchbacks. By the time I was at Lone Pine Lake, it was miserable. That said, I might try to do the one day hike someday. I was amazed that a lot of people do this. I think it would be very difficult, but at least you don't have to haul a 33 pound pack! read more

Made it to the top over memorial day weekend. The place was icy so ice axe and crampons were basically needed unless you were ballsy as hell. 99 switchbacks was an icy mess that shouldn't be tampered with, so we had to do THE CHUTE. Started on it about 630am and ended at 830am. A gnarly experience. Camping at trail camp and then summit the next day is the most ideal for soaking in the details instead of a rush to dayhike it. Get your permit (if you can) and then do a weekend trip. It's very worth it. Side note, if you are knowingly going to hike a mountain during SNOW SEASON you should not be a moron and ruin it for everyone. Prepare ahead of time and have actual frikken gear, can't tell you how many people tried to be cool about it and ended up ruining the footholes on the chute because they didn't have the gear to get up to the top. Stupid and annoying. Other than that.. it;s bragging rights. Really. read more

We got last minute permits onsite the day before, from my research it appears that they usually have a handful available from cancellations and we got lucky. 9/19/15: Started at 5:10am, summitted at 1:30pm, stayed on summit for about an hour, back at car at Whitney Portal at 9:30pm. Time of summit vis a vis afternoon storms/lightening is irrelevant if the forecast calls for sunny skies, which it did for us, so we started later than our planned 4am, no big deal. My buddy and I both pregamed with Diamox, low O2 was an issue for me (dyspnea, light-headedness, headache which Advil fixed, mild nausea) but not enough to stop. My buddy was pretty unaffected. Overall pretty tough day hike. I gave it 4 stars only b/c I've done Half Dome and that beats this one in terms of beauty; above the tree line Mt. Whitney is pretty much unsightly rock. But it's a bucket list item and I'm glad we did it. read more

Mt whitney......where does one start! The failed attempts of getting a permit through the reservation lottery had me wondering if this was ever going to happen. Oh and then this little beauracratic thingy called government shutdown meant the campgrounds, rangers and visitor centers were closed or on furlough....geesh! The whitney portal store was still open but they were told they may have to close. The man running the store advised us to just start hiking and don't look back. In other words there were no rangers to kick us off the mountain. So we decided to start hiking at 2am and off we went into the darkness! The hike wasn't too difficult until we reached 11000 feet...that's when it felt like one of my lungs was missing. At about 12000 feet we hit the famous 97(98 or 99) switchbacks. After you the switchbacks you ascend on the trail crest then you have just 2 more miles to go. At about 10:30 am we crawled onto the summit.......wow! read more

Mt. Whitney - Hiking Near Me - Lone Pine, California

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I am a avid hiker/ Mountain Biker/Jeeper,OK I love the out doors you get the picture. I did many training hikes to prep myself for this one. 22 miles in under 24hrs. Got the needed permits We made our drive up 2 days early. We did various hiking around the area before the big hike. Tried to get to sleep around 9pm. Our plan was to start at 2am. Needless to say I was too excited to sleep. Around 2 am we started he hike we reached the summit 14497ft cooked some food and took many photos. The date of our hike was 8/22/07 The weather was great. There was fresh water on the switchbacks. You need to uses a filter or steri pen to be safe I carried 200+ oz of water. Missed the Burgers at the bottom so we returned the next day to get our shirts and signature food. visit http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/ for the latest info and very good hiking prep info. hope this was helpful read more

This place is amazing. The view throughout the hike and at the summit is definitely worth all the work. Things to keep in mind: -Altitude sickness. Four of the people in our group had to turn around because of this. -Switchbacks. 96? 98? Do it with a friend! It's fun to have company. I had my iPod to accompany me, but it would've been more fun to be singing with a buddy. -Wagbags. You're supposed to poo in the bag and carry it throughout your hike. T.T I just didn't poo. Thank goodness I didn't need to. -Start early. You're looking at a 12-18 hour hike if you do a one-day trip. It's very possible and if you're prepped, you will breeze through everything! -If you've got a small camelbak and plan to bring a water filter with you, I believe the last opportunity to get water is just before the switchbacks. I somehow JUST survived with 1.5 liters of water. Too little, but maybe that's why I didn't have to poo. -Get permits early. Our group got our permits in February. -There was still snow. IN JULY!!!!!! SUPER COOOL. But seriously, to enjoy this hike, you need to be prepared for it. You don't want to be slugging through this hike and miss out on everything that's amazing about it. There are WATERFALLS!! (albeit, not extraordinarily large ones) Start early for the day hikes -- like 5am -- and you can enjoy a sunrise too. :) read more

I did the hike up to Mt. Whitney as a day hike last summer and it was amazing!! I trained a lot and because of that was able to smile the whole way up instead of feeling the effects of the altitude. I wrote all about my trip here: http://www.fuel4play.com/2014/10/mt-whitney-in-one-long-glorious-day.html Playing with fun, fitness and adventure, Fuel4Play read more

Gorgeous gorgeous views!! We only hiked a section of the Mount Whitney Trail since we weren't prepared for the full hike yet. Dogs are also only permitted up to Trail Crest. There is a small store at the trailhead where you can buy drinks, freeze dried food, as well as regular foods. Restrooms are also located at the trailhead. We will definitely be back for the full hike and this review will be updated!! read more

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Awesome views, awesome hike. Remember that no matter how well you train for this baby, you never know how you're going to feel above 12000 feet until you get there. Our strongest hiker in the group got hit real hard by the altitude, he left us in the dust on Baldy and Gorgonio, but barely made it to camp at 12000 feet due to the altitude. What has worked for me is baby aspirin 81mg and ginko biloba the week before, usually I'm not into supplements, but I've done Whitney a couple times without taking those 2, and my head took a pounding after passing the 100 switchbacks and hitting the backside of the mountain. We've done this mountain a couple different ways, and each way worked 1. Start early in the morning, summit and come back down by afternoon in time for Pizza at the restaurant in Lone Pine. Its not that the pizza is great, its the fact that you've been eating fruit, nuts and power bars all day. 2. Start a little later in the morning, set up camp at 12000 feet, take a small backpack (enough for your camel bag), summit, come back down and camp at 12000 feet. (I liked this way the best, you get to party a little bit more at camp, drink a few more shots without having to worry about hiking too much in the morning. 3. Start in the afternoon, camp at 12000 feet, and tackle the switchbacks and the summit in the morning, this is a good option for getting adjusted to the higher altitude, but don't camp at the weenie camp, camp at the rocky, windy one at 12000 feet. Don't leave any food in your camp, particularly in your tent, the marmots will get to it, they are no joke. read more

So brutal! I'm still sore from this hike and its been over a month! You get it all with this one though, Bears at your campsite stealing, Marmots that can open backpack zippers, altitude sickness and more. Add it all up with the amazing views and a huge sense of accomplishment when you get to the top and you have an epic journey worthy of Bilbo and Gandalf. (or at least Sam and Smeagol). read more

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Best hike I've ever done. We applied for the lottery in 2005 and hiked it on July 4th. The high sierra camps in Yosemite were closed all 2005 due to snow, and so we knew there would be quite a bit of snow. We camped for 2 days in Yosemite at 11,000-12,000 ft to try and acclimate to the altitude. I highly recommend either doing this, or staying a night at 12,000 on Whitney. A friend who had tried the previous year did not make it up due to altitude sickness. We got up around 3:15 am to start the hike around 4:15am. If you want to hike it in a day, it's possible, although it took us 16-1/2 hours round trip with all the snow we ran into. It can probably be done faster if you don't hit a ton of snow. It's a good 6,500ft elevation gain, so going up takes quite a bit longer. We hit the summit around 1:30. The view you get at the 12,000 ft crest is the most amazing view I've ever seen. Do not glissade down the mountain, as tempting as it might seem! People have died trying to glissade down, it's dangerous! Make sure you check the weather and dress properly. Do this hike, you won't regret it! read more

LMAO, I can Yelp about a mountain! My first trip to the area was to climb Whitney via the East Face and Russell via the Fishhook Arete. I camped and hiked in Onion Valley to acclimate before heading to Whitney Portal. The hike in can be a route finding challenge for first timers, not that you could really get lost, but you can waste a good deal of time. Negotiating the Ledges is a little unnerving because the rock is sandy and a fall would lead to discomfort. Whitney itself is just plain awesome to look at and you get to climb the highest peak in the lower 48 (although it's only marginally taller than a whole mess of other peaks in CA and CO). I take a star off for these reasons: red tape, busy summit, and loose rock on the climb. Nearby Mt Russell has much better climbing and 3rd class scrambling, and a much less crowded summit. ***IF YOU PACK IT IN, THEN YOU PACK IT OUT*** ***THIS MEANS YOUR POOP TOO*** read more

08/27/2011-My longest review yet As I begin to draft my review, gathering my thoughts and emotions that I'd like to slam down on this blank yelping canvas, the first thing I do is sigh. A sigh of relief I figure but also a sigh do to the physical and mental energy it took to complete this once in a lifetime "bucket list" opportunity. Or maybe simply recalling the day in general that makes it appropriate to sigh. . . I said "once in a lifetime" opportunity because right now, I would not elect to hike Mt. Whitney willingly again for some time, if ever. NOTE: Bring all the food you never eat that's really bad for you because that's all your going to want or wish you had. Team Uno set forth on good old Whitney about 2:30am. I must have felt nauseous in the early miles because the only thing that kept my spirits up and me awake was munching on little food items from my pack at a consistently alarming rate. The thought of this feeling lasting much longer before I found a cozy little hiding place to fall asleep startled me because I'd run out of food before ever reaching the summit just to stay awake. Lucky, it passed and I became alive once the sun started to rise. Mile after mile. Switchback after switchback then reaching the Sierra Nevada crossing point and onto the summit. The views once virgin to eyes are now burnt into my memory just like I saw them as my breath was taken away (not from altitude :)). Approaching the 8th mile and I'm noticing the time is ticking by but that damn hut sure doesn't feel like its closer then it was the first time I was able to clearly focus on her summit without squinting. Only about a half mile later I felt as if I was unable to keep my mind off of what I had easily been able to distract myself from, the cold. The cloud coverage became thicker and skies a bit darker. A ranger ran into us shortly after I verbally voiced how cold I had become to my fiance, suggesting that if we don't reach the summit by 1 -1:30pm that it's best to turn back and beat a storm fast approaching. Knowing how cold I was without enough but one more layer left I could use the decision was made. We were turning back. Completely disappointed and beside myself, my head buried in my own chest, the tears began to run down my cheeks. "We didn't make it. All of the training and hard work, we didn't make it." I said to myself. I was quickly comforted and reassured by my fiancé that it was ok, needing to be safe and make a smart choice; it was time to head back. I know he would have kept going if for me not being so cold. The storm would not have stopped either of us. Who knows, maybe it's just how it was meant to be. 09/17/2011 Revisited Team Suruki revisited this pestering B*!&ch three weeks after our first attempt. Without a permit in hand this required me to start my day early Friday morning to ensure I arrived at the INYO National Forest visitor center by 10:50am in hopes of entering the lottery to receive a walk on permit for a day hike. An interesting process to be a part of, standing around waiting, picking out a number blindly out of a box and being called numerically. I picked number 5. "We're in!" My number was called and I was out of there before I knew it wag bags in hand. Sent a text to my fiance "we're in" a successful attempt at a permit and the rest is history that night we were on our way back up Mt. Whitney just as we were three weeks prior. This, a successful summit, completed! Although missing our hiking partners from Team Uno, we knew they would be happy for us upon completion. read more

Mt. Whitney - Team Suruki! - Hiking Near Me - Lone Pine, California

4 weeks of training and the goal was to get to Whitney Portal. Well, here goes nothing... This hike gave various gorgeous shots...but 15+ miles roundtrip, whether you make it to the summit or die trying like I did...was some sort of death wish! You can read everyone else's ordeal, but in short: Got up to trail camp w/o any altitude sickness and set up camp hoping to go up the cardio of 97-switchbacks, but the Conn man was suffering from AMS, so we knew better and got him back down to normal elevation. You will pay dearly mentally and physically for this excursion, but I had an ultimate blast and would do it again in a heartbeat--scout's honors!!!! read more