You can also opt to strap items like a tent or sleeping pad to the outside of a smaller pack. It s the highest summit in the contiguous united states with an elevation of 4. This is not necessary for mt whitney but some acclimatization is recommended. Whitney start from the east side of the sierra and remain in inyo national forest throughout their hike. Oct, 2019 the short answer it depends on which route you choose. Whitney portal road, a mountain drive in the sierra nevada. Whitney trail or climbing routes like the mountaineers route. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 united states at 14,505 feet above sea level. Whitney trail starts high at 8,600 feet and ascends gently over the course of its 6,000 vertical feet gain in elevation. This video is our best advice and recommendations for having a successful summit.
We have seen wellconditioned trail runners go from base to summit on the jewell trail in under an hour. How long does it take to hike mount whitney from trail. Whitney is one of the most ventured peaks in the eastern sierra, dominating the skyline of the tiny town of lone pine. Ice axes and crampons are needed in spring and early summer, but technical climbing equipment is not usually necessary between midjuly and early october. Climbing rainier is an enormous test but you can reach the top. Its just to say that the east face routes give you views and challenges that take you off the beaten path and give you a degree of solitude that you dont get on the trail.
This mulesupported trip includes long days and high mileages at altitude, but the mules carry most of your weight, making the trip more feasible. At 14,505 feet, its the highest point in the lower 48 and is one of those rare high peaks that you can hike to without any mountaineering skills. Take a breather and then conquer whitneys 22 miles and 6,100 elevation gain. That said, most groups at a bare minimum opt for one rest day at 14,200 feet and another upon reaching high camp, which means a bit longer expedition. Whitney is a 22 miles round trip hike, has an elevation climb of over 6000 feet, and is one of the most famous extreme day hikes.
It didnt take long to realize how significantly unprepared other hikers. If possible i highly recommend hiking a,000 14,000 peak as part of your training. Southern california has several peaks to gradually prepare you for mt. Mount whitney mountaineers route california alltrails. Find out how to get a permit, and what are the most popular routes to the summit. As dangerous as mount rainier is, its not insane to climb it, says mike gauthier, the head climbing ranger for mount rainier. Best time of year to bag a mount whitney summit wilderness. West face gully has also become more popular as a harder nontechnical route that has some challenging steep sections. Mount whitney, at 14,505 feet, is the highest peak in the lower 48 states, and boasts several moderate rock climbs and scrambles on excellent quality granite. The average of 550feet in elevation gain per mile makes for a relatively gentle ascent. Little tips and small pieces of advice from a friend whos been there a few times before.
Learn what it takes to hike or climb to the top of mount whitney. Im in good enough shape to do it, as ive been adventuring all summer but have some question hoping some of you all could help. We need to get a tshirt that says, hiked mount whitney in one day and survived. May 08, 2014 for a single overnight hike up mount whitney, you can get away with as little a 38 liter pack, but 55 to 70 will give you more options. At 14,495 feet mount whitney is the high point of the lower fortyeight states. Whitney is the highest peak in the continental united states. If you choose the 22mile long mount whitney trail that starts at the whitney portal campground at an altitude of 8,300 feet, it would take you up. How to hike mount whitney wikihow how to do anything. Hiking mount whitney was on our bucket list, especially as it is the highest peak in the contiguous 48 u. It uses gps to tell you exactly where you are on the trail, what altitude you are at, how far to the next landmarks etc.
Although mount kilimanjaro is known as a walkup mountain, you should not underestimate it and its risks. The mt whitney hike is on every hikers bucket list. This is the trailhead for both the mount whitney trail and the mountaineers route as well as many other mountaineering and climbing routes on mount whitney, mount russell, and mount carillon. Nov 02, 2017 on our way up mount whitney different paths. At an elevation of 14,501 feet, mount whitney is the tallest mountain in california and the tallest peak in the lower 48. The hike is strenuous, long, and the effects of the altitude can. The trail does not follow the most direct route used by mountaineers along the north fork of lone pine creek, but. Because it is the most frequently climbed mountain peak in the sierra nevada, a permit system is in place to minimize the impact of.
The 11mile 18 km long trail is nontechnical when free of snow and ice, usually from july to late september. This can be done in one day or, if you get an overnight permit, you can stop at various points along the way to camp overnight. If you choose the 22mile long mount whitney trail that starts at the whitney portal campground at an altitude of 8,300 feet, it would take you up to around half a day to reach the top of the mountain. To prepare to hike mount whitney, you will need to get a permit, map out your hiking route, and train so.
The mount whitney trail is the shortest and most popular hiking route. The hike is about 22 mi 35 km round trip, with an elevation gain of over 6,100 feet 1,860 m. Here are links to hikes weve done in years past and trails id consider for future acclimation hikes. Whitney lies on the boundary of sequoia national park and inyo national forest. This hiking guide focuses on the popular mount whitney trail from whitney portal by lone pine. Whitney portal road is a short but spectacular drive that takes you about halfway up mount whitney, located in inyo county, in the eastern central part of california, in usa.
The mount whitney mountaineers route is a steep, straight shot from whitney portal to the mountains summit. Aug 09, 2018 in july or august, a strongwilled person with solid fitness and no altitude sickness could pull off the long hike up the mount whitney trail. Nov 22, 2016 2017 sounds like a great year to cross summiting mount whitney off your bucket list. In july or august, a strongwilled person with solid fitness and no altitude sickness could pull off the long hike up the mount whitney trail. May 06, 2015 trail camp is at 12k and about 6 miles 4. Preparing, training, learning or just working for mt whitney can be daunting. Dont just day hike mount whitney overnight it and really. Whitney weekend, i also recommend hiking in the area a day or two prior to taking on mt. The combo radio and gps unit lets you visualize the location of your partner as long as they have a rino as well and are within range. Climb mount baker alpine ascents international mt baker. Mount marcy is the highest point in new york state, with an elevation of 5,344 feet 1,629 m.
Its also ranked as the 11th highest peak in the united states the remaining ten are in alaska and 24th in north america. Whitney by chris marks philip werner chris marks, destinations make no mistake about it, while the 22 mile trail to the top of mt. It would take as long as it would take for you to climb your mom. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from may until october. The mount whitney trail is a trail that climbs mount whitney. Its not a particularly long hike, but it is very steep. It was an ambitious challenge to hike the 22 miles roundtrip on the outandback trail in one day, and we did it.
Whitney is no everest, it does take preparation and planning to summit the tallest mountain in the continental united states. A good sleep at the whitney portal will make all the difference hiking the next day. You need to prep your feet for the long day and get accustomed to carrying and using the gear youll take on the hike. Whitney more on this below, but you need to supplement your normal training with some hiking and time at altitude. If you run or bike regularly, you may already be in good enough shape to hike mt. But in a snowcovered may or june, certain sections. Frequently asked questions about hiking mount washington. Before i get into the details of my hike up mount whitney, i want to emphasize how difficult this hike can be for those. I definitely like to go back and do it again but this time i want to be 100%.
You are in fairly good physical shape and handle altitude well. See the inyo national forests mount whitney zone regulations webpage fs. How long it takes to climb depends on the route selected, the physical condition of the climbers, and. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the highest mountain in the northeast. Mount washington is shrouded in mystery, but the answers to your questions about the great mountain dont need to be. It averages about 550 feet elevation gain per mile, an easy slope. The first time i arrived at whitney portal, my head was pounding just from the drive up. Afternoon thunderstorms are not an issue, but winter brings an entire new set of conditions that must be considered. Pages also include information on side trips such as mt muir, and the classic east face route. Any book that is for middle aged hiking is one i definitely want.
The short answer it depends on which route you choose. The average time that mount marcy can be climbed up is around. If you have technical experience, you can choose from a bevy of lines that take a more direct route to the top. There is some prep work you need to do, like getting your mt whitney permit and dealing with the altitude. Though often climbed cartocar in a long ish day, most parties will elect to pull a camping permit for one of the boy scout lakes and enjoy a multiday excursion in the whitney zone. Going down is about 23 hours quicker than going up. Frequently asked questions about climbing mount shasta. The cascade gulch route used to be considered long and easy, but changing conditions over the years have turned this climb into a technical route where it crosses the upper whitney glacier. It starts at whitney portal, miles 21 km west of the town of lone pine, california. Hiking in the winter or early spring, like i did, adds an extra level of difficulty with the snow. The vast majority of people climb whitney in one or two days. Things nobody tells you about hiking mt whitney upon 2020. This is the way to do it if you plan to do a day hike because you will be starting before the sun comes up.
Using ebits blocks to cook your food significantly cuts down on the bulk and weight of carrying a trail stove and fuel. How long does it take to hike mount whitney from trail camp. Mar 24, 2019 the vast majority of people climb whitney in one or two days. Map of mt whitney zone day use permit is required within the red boundary. This climb is open to any physically fit enthusiastic novice, beginner, or advanced beginner. Its the highest summit in the contiguous united states with an elevation of 4. Mar 01, 2018 preparing, training, learning or just working for mt whitney can be daunting. It s just to say that the east face routes give you views and challenges that take you off the beaten path and give you a degree of solitude that you dont get on the trail. The average expedition is 17 to 21 days, round trip. The distance from bunny flat to the summit is about 6 miles, but the elevation gains over 7000 feet.
Mount whitney has turned into an overcrowded catastrophe. For a single overnight hike up mount whitney, you can get away with as little a 38 liter pack, but 55 to 70 will give you more options. The survey marker at the summit still says 14, 494 feet, but the latest surveys show it is higher than that. The hiking time to reach the summit can vary widely depending on route, physical preparation and ontrail conditions. Mount kilimanjaro routes and their variations take between five to nine days to complete. Bagging mount whitney seems to be on the list of every serious mountaineer. Usually i write long posts about trails but when it comes to whitney, there are already plenty of amazing and incredibly detailed guides see below for lots of good links.
So instead, heres a bunch of random things i think are worth knowing about the trail and the area. Whitney trail is the most accessible, fastest and most popular. Climbing rainier is an enormous test but you can reach the. It was pioneered by john muir who referred to the traditional main trail as for soft, succulent people. Whitney, such as the shakyleg crack variation or the cardiovascular seizure. In the sierra nevada, the absolute best conditions generally exist during july. How long does it take to hike mount whitney from trail camp to the. Beyond the physical superlatives, hiking the mount whitney trail is a beautiful experience in and of itself, and its very doable for southern californians.
Too many inexperienced people are climbing whitney outside. Altitude will be one of the biggest challenges to you on the hike. The mount whitney hike itself wasnt easy in one day. John muir climbed the famed mountaineers route a hefty class 3 scramble that presents a cardiovascular challenge. And since you probably want to maximize your chances of summiting, you have to time your trip just right. From the whitney portal trailhead, it is 11 miles and over 6,000 feet of elevation gain to the top. For fast hikers, the ascent can be done in about 5 hours, with about 7 to 8 hours for the average hiker. In miles, you will reach whitney portal at an elevation of 8,365 feet. Whitney is a fast pace of 5 hours, a moderate time of 78 hours, and a slow hike of 10 hours. Oct 04, 2017 next, you will want to drive up to spend your first night at the whitney portal. Avoid the crowds on the hiking path by climbing one of these three moderate, classic alpine climbs, in any season, and either privately or with a group.
There are, however, short approach trails from the various trailheads to the popular climbing routes when the winter snowline recedes. It has been over a decade since i last did whitney, but it is on the schedule for next year. As the highest point on the mainland united states, mount whitney is a popular destination for avid hikers. If you have more time you could trek 72 miles on the high sierra trail, which. Which way you end up doing it depends on a number of factors. If you didnt know, there are a few routes up towards the peak of mount whitney. Prior experience with backpacking and camping is required. But this is not to say that taking the mount whitney trail is not memorable or exciting, because it is. When you leave trail camp, you gain a majority of your elevation.
Asked in california, mountains, mount whitney, mount mckinley, mount rushmore. That will be my first attempt as a middle aged hiker. Climbing mount whitneys mountaineers route calitrails. When you leave trail camp, you gain a majority of your elevation 2k i believe via 100 or so switchbacks over 3 miles. Heres everything you need to know and do for the mt whitney hike, including getting your mt.
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