Here's everything you need to know and do for the Mt Whitney hike, including getting your Mt Whitney permit and training for the hike. Alternate leaders cannot be added or changed later. Mt Whitney Trail permit is not valid for the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek approach to climbing routes like Mountaineers Route, East Face, East Buttress, or Mt Russell. Some people don’t filter the water, some people do. Alternate Routes. You still have an 11 mile hike back down to Whitney Portal. But those occasions seem to be getting rarer each year. Whitney Trailhead, Whitney Portal, CA, 93545, USA, some hikers slide down that on their butt, hiking tricks and tips that I’ve learned over the years, what hiking gear works and what gear doesn’t, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Hikes, please erase and block them using your web browser. An alternate backpacking route to Mt Whitney is the southern ridge line from the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead, but you still must verify with local authorities for permits & Wilderness passes. The classic East Face route (5.7) and the sustained East Buttress Route (5.7). Only the group leader on the permit can pick up the permit. Hi All and thanks for all the informative posts in this forum.I am planning on doing the Mt Whitney summit on May 2-3. Hiking Mt Whitney in the Winter Lone Pine, California. The elevation at the trailhead is 8360' (2550 meters). Ask the rangers what the conditions are and if you need micro-spikes. Snow, Alpine 4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b. In the event of a lapse in federal government funding the Recreation.gov website may freeze. It typically gets very cold at night, so prepare accordingly. Whitney Zone- Day Use All Routes JM34.5MWZ Enter a date range and group size, then click Search. In our descent, I noted some distinctions between the two routes, the biggest being how LONG Mt Whitney Trail is compared to the Mountaineers Route. Whitney is a 10.7 mile (17.1 km) trail from Whitney Portal, 13 miles (21 km) west of the town of Lone Pine on the east side of the Sierra. If you’re susceptible to altitude sickness, the Mt Whitney Trail hovers above 12,000ft for multiple miles. No hard feelings, though, :rolleyes: Since our flights are already booked, and there's dozens of other fabulous big mountains out west, we are all wondering what your recommendations are for an amazing first 14er for us. Whitney is the tallest peak in the “lower 48,” but ranks 11th in the United States (the top ten are all in Alaska) and 24th in North America.It’s 65 feet taller than Mt. Here due to the long closure for bighorn sheep, and now low-use as an “unmaintained” trail, we found an abundance of wildlife in this basin. Guided groups are about the only ones ascending Mt Whitney in April. I make sure I’m well hydrated before I start too, again, to prevent the onset of AMS. An early “alpine” start, we’ll leave our basecamp and extra gear behind for our summit attempt of Mt Whitney (14,495’). The lighter your pack, the easier the effort, the more you will enjoy the hike. If you have 2-5 days (depending on your speed), you can enter north of Whitney at the Onion Valley trailhead, crossing over the famed Kearsarge area, then heading south on the John Muir Trail to Whitney. Unlike the main trail, it requires attention to detail and route-finding skills. Snow 181 The Mountaineer's Route. PCT permit does not allow use of the Mt Whitney trail. Carefully planting one foot in front of the other, breathing heavily and climbing in snow with my ice axe, I push on to summit California’s highest mountain — Mt Whitney. The visitor center is open from 8am to 5pm daily. Nobody will be trying the Main Trail in April. 2021 Whitney/Russell Dates. If you’re hiking Whitney, there can be snow on the trail. We are going to try this around the end of June and will have several days, ten I believe, but would like to hit Boundry Peak and Humphreys Peak on this trip also. 4. Trips sponsored by organizations or commercial groups must contact the permit office before applying for a Mt. Whitney Trail Trailhead: Whiney Portal Campground (Paved Road) 8350 ft/2545 m Vertical Gain: 6148 ft/1874 m Distance (one way): 10.75 mi/17.3 km: Data Source Whitney Mountaineers Route winter/spring is a spectacular way to reach the highest peak in the lower 48 states! Whitney? Whitney guided climbs on both of these classic routes. Only the leader or alternate named on lottery application can pick up or use the permit. We live in SC so it is a long way to travel and we want to fill up the vacation if possible. I go through about 6 liters of water on a day hike to the summit. The lottery will run some time between March 16 and April 1. Whitney permit, a special use permit may be needed. Whitney Mountaineers Route! The route is rated class 3 because of the section from the notch to the summit. Most people climb the mountain by way of the Whitney Trail walk-up. Remember to pace yourself, stay fueled and hydrated, and don’t go beyond your limits. Whitney Mountaineers Route Overview. Whitney, the pyramidal potentate of the Sierra Nevada, is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. A few of the most popular routes are as follows: The Mount Whitney Trail is the shortest and most popular hiking route. 3. There are at least a dozen different routesup the mountain, varying in difficulty and technical skills required. Are you determined to make it to the top and check it off your bucket list? read more about your privacy and HikingGuy.com here. At the very least, it should be much cooler and windy up there. royanderson. Nearby Hiking Trails . There are several hiking routes that you can take when you hike Mount Whitney. It is the highpoint of both Tulare & Inyo counties. Climbing Mt Whitney, training tips and programs, Mount Whitney permit / lottery information, inspiration, facts and figures, logistics and geography. (we are all 14er newbies) FYI - this trip is in late July. You need a valid ID and a printout of your permit confirmation email to get your permit. I know I just told you to bring a bunch of gear, but try to lighten your pack as much as you can without sacrificing safety and health. And while there are indeed true mountaineering routes up Mt. There are plenty of places to refill on water. 2. The permit lottery lets you choose 1 main day, and 15 alternates. During the winter and spring months the Mountaineers Route is full of snow creating a classic mountaineering experience. Mt. If you opt for the higher, non-JMT alternate route (SECTION 2: Option B) you’ll enter the beautiful Woods Lake Basin. This approach is much more difficult than taking the Mt Whitney Trail because it can get a little sketchy to follow in places, it has a lot of areas where you will end up doing a bit of rock scrambling, and there are the infamous Ebersbacher Ledges to contend with. Dates 2021. Iceberg Lake is used as the traditional high camp for climbers doing East Face Routes on Mt Whitney. Mount Whitney O36118e3 1:24,000: First Ascent: August 18, 1873 Begole, Charles (United States) Johnson, Albert Lucas, John: Route #1 : Maintained Hiking Trail: Mt. It was 116 °F (confirmed at Furnace Creek). Whitney has two fantastic and classic alpine rock climbs up its East Face. Hike 10 miles, 3000 feet of elevation gain, Hike 12 miles, 4000 feet of elevation gain, Hike 14 miles, 5000 feet of elevation gain, Hike 16 miles, 5500 feet of elevation gain, Hike 18 miles, 6000 feet of elevation gain, Hike Whitney, 22 miles, 6200 feet of elevation gain. Climbing Mt. Drinking frequently is an easy way to put the odds in your favor. Whitney's north face does fill in with snow, on occasion. The hike is about 22 mi (35 km) round trip with an elevation gain of over 6,100 ft (1,859 m). Whitney. Description Are you planning a trip to Mt. Whitney sits only 84 miles away from the lowest point in North America — Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park.It is situated on the Sierra Crest, running north-south and is surrounded b… Whitney Permit for Six Overnight Hikers = DENIED! Carefully planting one foot in front of the other, breathing heavily and climbing in snow with my ice axe, I push on to summit California’s highest mountain — Mt Whitney. Whitney as well, Mt. 2. I’ve seen many folks struggle on the way down after blowing through all their energy on the way up, finishing at Whitney Portal long after sunset. You will be notified when results are available. Whitney Trail and the Mountaineer’s Route. High Sierra Trail. The track on our map here shows both routes. I plan on staying at a hotel/motel on the 1st.What are my options if I do not win the lottery for May 2-3. The first thing you need to do is pick 16 dates that you would like to hike Mt Whitney on. Whitney Rock Climbing Routes. You need to pack out all your waste (yes, that means poop) in a. You still need a Whitney zone exit permit to walk down the main trail, but when i was exploring this a couple years back, they were still available on some dates at this time, and the rangers were very promising about getting them walk-in at Onion Valley. Onion Valley to Mt. Whitney Portal Trailhead via Mount Whitney Trail. Let someone at home know your plan, and have them expect a call on the evening after your hike. An excellent question—maybe today we'll find an answer. * DAY USE of Mt. You can enter up to 15 choices in the lottery. Even if you’re in great shape and you’ve done all your prep correctly, this is still a hard hike. Langley 14,026′ (4,275 m), the southernmost 14er in the Sierra. Whitney and surrounding peaks. Alpine weather is volatile and changeable. So why bother at all with trying to ski this mountain? Keeping lightly active when you arrive at camp will help alleviate altitude sickness. These routes very greatly in length, time, and level of difficulty, so it is important that you map out which hiking route you decide to take. Whitney 14,505′ (4,421 m) and a traverse across its summit, before continuing on to exit the high peaks near the shoulder of Mt. Mount Whitney, of the California Sierra Nevada, holds numerous distinctions. Give them the number of the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office (. At 14,495 feet Mount Whitney is the high point of the lower forty eight states and the goal of many a mountaineer. Whitney is a 10.7 mile (17.1 km) trail from Whitney Portal, 13 miles (21 km) west of the town of Lone Pine on the east side of the Sierra. Whitney Trail Trailhead: Whiney Portal Campground (Paved Road) 8350 ft/2545 m Vertical Gain: 6148 ft/1874 m Distance (one way): 10.75 mi/17.3 km: Data Source However, two stand out as the most popular: the Mt. Besides the 99 switchbacks, most of the trail is a gradual increase and even descends in certain areas. Viewing Routes attached to Mountain/Rock: Mount Whitney View All Routes. Thanks for all the rapid replies. Whitney permit. Back to albums list Mt. Add Route to Mount Whitney: Create New Attach Existing. You can make arrangements for the ranger to leave your Whitney permit in a night box if you are arriving late. Whitney. 4 days before Whitney hike – travel to and overnight in, 2 days before – rest, nap, hydrate, do lunch and hang out a bit at Whitney Portal (7850 feet), overnight in Lone Pine, 1 days before – easy 10-15 mile hike at Cottonwood, sleep in Lone Pine. DIFFICULT 11.0 mi. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states and the crown jewel of California's Sierra Nevada. Search Routes near: Washington, United States. If it’s windy and you’re scared, crawl. If you wish to do alternate routes in … The sheer height of the bare granite summit, combined with its dramatic appearance — rising more than 10,000 feet from the town of Lone Pine, Calif. in the Owens River Valley — means bagging the summit is on the list of every serious mountaineer. The trail is very well-graded and we’ll quickly gain final summit ridge. ... JMT and alternate backcountry routes. Ice axes and crampons are needed in spring and early summer, but technical climbing equipment is not usually necessary between mid-July and early October. Mount Whitney (Paiute: Too-man-i-goo-yah) is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States and the Sierra Nevada, with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m). Whitney Trail The most popular path to the summit is aptly called the Mt. You still need a Whitney zone exit permit to walk down the main trail, but when i was exploring this a couple years back, they were still available on some dates at this time, and the rangers were very … It’s a Class 1 (non-technical) 22 mile roundtrip hike that can be done in 1 or 2days depending on how much time you have and how quickly y… The route also includes an ascent of the Mountaineer’s Route up Mt. 1. Plan for bad conditions at the summit, even if the forecast looks okay. In the summer months between July and early September, The Mt. The East Face of Mt. It was named after. Whitney via the Mountaineers Route. In fact the race route ends at Whitney Portal, 8 miles and several thousand feet below Mt. Elbert — the tallest of the Rocky Mountains located in Colorado. Rising to 14,505 feet, Mt. All Rights Reserved, This high Sierras website gives a good overview of the hike, there’s a good book / trail guide if you want to dig deeper, SoCal hiker has great guides on the John Muir Trail, Here are some tips on checking for snow on the trail, people who are inexperienced and unprepared die more often, Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center, interesting account of a lost hiker who spent two days on Mt Whitney, an emergency beacon and/or satellite communication device, watch this video on a failed attempt to summit Kilimanjaro because of altitude, Stamford study (that took place in the Eastern Sierra) found that popping 600mg of Ibuprofen, Mt. Start Here! Mt Whitney Quest Pages. Mt. Long pants, gloves, a winter hat, a good shell, and light down jacket are usually enough for the summer. Don’t leave food in your car at Whitney Portal, there are bears active. 1. Ask the ranger about the trail condition when you get your permit. No camping east of the PCT, at Guitar Lake or on the mountain. The main Mt Whitney Trail runs a meandering 11 miles to the summit, while the Mountaineer's Route is a much shorter, more technical (Class 4) way to the top. This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation ... vail.shtml, http://webpages.charter.net/mtwhitneyhiking/dayhike.htm, http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation ... .shtml>