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September 14/15, 2010
Mt. Whitney – 14,505’ towers along the Sierra Crest and it is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United
States……and perhaps, it is one of the most popular mountain hikes in the Sierra
Nevada. Whitney is located between Inyo and Tulare counties, 85 miles west of
the lowest point in North America = Badwater in Death Valley National Park
(282’ below sea level). It also stands within Sequoia National Park and the
summit is the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail which is 211 mile
wilderness trail from Yosemite National Park through the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sequoia National Park and King's Canyon National Park and ends at
Mt. Whitney with the elevation of 14,505’.
The
official plaque on the summit rock
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If
you are planning to summit Mt. Whitney? Here's some tips for you.
Prepare in advance both physically and mentally, particularly for high
altitude and do some homework before heading out to
Whitney. Wilderness
permit is required for both day hikers and backpackers. And guess
what?..... permits
based on
annual quotas can be all gone prior to the season. Mt. Whitney trail is
a very popular hike. But, don’t be
discouraged if permits are all sold out because there
are always unreserved or cancelled permits which become available on a
first-come, first-served basis
after 2pm daily during the season. Bear-proof food
canisters are required and no food is allowed to leave in your car
because there have been incidents attacked
by hungry bears! Bear lockers are available in the parking lot so that
you can keep your food. You can rent a bear
canister at the visitor center
($2.50/day). Pack-out all human waste and campfires are prohibited. If
you have
any questions
re climbing Mt. Whitney, contact Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center in Lone Pine, CA. They have necessary information and daily updates such as weather, trail condition, permits, etc.
View east of
Alabama Hills along Whitney Portal Road and
Lone Pine and US 395 in the valley.
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Mt. Whitney from Alabama Hills |
- Whitney Portal 8,360' 0.0 mi
- Lone Pine Lake 9,900' 2.8 mi
- Outpost Camp 10,400' 3.8 mi
- Mirror Lake 10,640' 4.0 mi
- Trailside Meadow 11,400' 5.0 mi
- Trail Camp 12,000' 6.0 mi
- Trail Crest 13,700' 8.2 mi
- Muir Trail JCT 13,480' 8.7 mi
- Summit 14,505' 11.0 mi
How
to get there:
From
Lone Pine, CA, travel 13 miles west on Whitney Portal Road. Trailhead is on
the right side of the
road at Whitney Portal.
The Journey
The Journey
I
arrived
at the trailhead in Whitney Portal (8,360’) around 5:30pm with a luck in
my hand....there was one cancellation of Wilderness Permit that
afternoon, thank God! The parking lot for
overnight hikers was almost FULL. After
I managed to secure a spot for my car, I checked around the portal area
first to familiarize
myself - Whitney Portal store, restrooms, bear-proof food lockers and
the trailhead. My game
plan was to change
clothes, check all the gear and essentials, eat dinner, store food in the bear locker, and hit the
trail by 8pm. Hike about
4 miles to Outpost Camp (10,360’), set up a tent, sleep, get up before sunrise and aim to summit by noon.
Mount Whitney Trailhead at Whitney Portal.
Entering
the John Muir Wilderness. It was pitch
dark!
After
2.5 hrs hike from trailhead, I reached Outpost Camp (10,360’) around 10:30pm. I set up my base
camp, which was very simple - sleeping mat and sleeping bag
with a bivy, that’s it. I planned that
way to make it simple, easy and light. I knew the weather was going to be
cooperative that night - calm and warm. As a general rule, the
bear canister is supposed to be placed at least 50’
away and in a leveled area, not by cliff
or water. I placed it under a tree about
100’ away from me.
The sky was crystal clear and myriads of twinkling
and shooting stars. It made me feel like I was not there at Mt.
Whitney, but flew into the starry sky and exploring the universe. It
was after midnight. I finally closed my eyes and slipped into another
universe…….
Time
to hit the trail! After a short sleep, I was back on trail by 4:30am,
ascending to Trail Camp 12,000'. Around 11,000', looking down toward
Lone Pine, which was covered by low clouds and only seen were some peaks
of the range on the other side - the Owens Valley. Mt. Whitney trail
is visible traversing down below.
Magic moment near Trail Camp - Alpenglow at sunrise.
The great wall of Mt. Whitney?
That’s what I called it when I saw this.
The peak in the center is Mt. Muir (14,018’). At Trail Camp - 12,000'.
Be ready for 98 switchback! |
The
infamous switchbacks of Mt. Whitney trail. Do
you know how many switchbacks you have to clear between Trail Camp to Trail
Crest with the elevation
gain of 1,777’ in 2.2miles? 98 switchbacks! The high altitude
trail section between
Trail Camp – Trail Crest is, perhaps, the most difficult part of the climb for many hikers. It's a point of no ascent where some
hikers may start
to feel “altitude sickness” due to the high elevation above 12,000’ and trekking up 98 switchbacks to above 13,000’.
The key is to pace yourself, no rush. Stay hydrated. Enjoy the vistas
as you hike up those 98 killers. Take a break and sip water as you
need. Also, a little snack to keep your energy going helps prevent altitude sickness.
The best way to avoid altitude sickness is acclimatization. If you
feel a little headache or lightheaded, then, stop and rest. If it
doesn't help, you must descend right away for your own life's sake.
At the beginning of the 98 switchbacks, looking
down toward Trail Camp…..a tarn (L) and Consultation Lake (R). The valley down below is still
covered by low clouds. By the way, Trail Camp is the last place where you can refill your water.
The Cables are installed for safety on this steep icy face of the trail. It only takes one slip to sheer cliff.
Trail is well-maintained over all, but very rocky.
Entering
the John Muir Trail. The Whitney trail junctions
with the John Muir trail at Trail Crest and continues
on to the summit. The trail runs along the west side
of the Whitney range from this point on. Sequoia National Park is
visible in the distance.
The official USGS brass benchmark disk on the summit stamped as 14,494'. (Estimated using the older vertical datum (NVGD29) from 1929.) By the new vertical datum
established in 1988 (NAVD88) the summit
elevation is now estimated to be at 14,505 feet - Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the contiguous United States.
View west of the John Muir Trail - Sequoia National Park. Hitchcock Mountain, Hitchcock Lakes and Guitar Lake. The Sierra Crest in skyline – it's the Great Western Divide!
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View east of Mt. Whitney summit. Iceberg Lake seen in front. Mountain peaks in frame are:
Mt. Russell Ridge Line
Lone Pine
Thor Peak, 12,300’
Lone Pine Peak, 12,944’
Mt Irvine, 13,770’
Mt. Mallory, 13,850’
Mt. Langley, 14,026’
Mt. Le Conte, 13.930’
Olancha Peak, 12,123’
Wotans Throne, 12,746’
Pinnacle Ridge
Lone Pine
Thor Peak, 12,300’
Lone Pine Peak, 12,944’
Mt Irvine, 13,770’
Mt. Mallory, 13,850’
Mt. Langley, 14,026’
Mt. Le Conte, 13.930’
Olancha Peak, 12,123’
Wotans Throne, 12,746’
Pinnacle Ridge
View north – west – south of Mt. Whitney summit. The summit plaque on the front rock and the summit shelter in center. Sequoia National Park and The Sierra Crest in skyline. Hitchcock Mt. and Hitchcock Lake are partially visible to the left.
South
view of Mt. Whitney summit. Hitchcock Mountain and Hitchcock Lake in
foreground. The Sierra Crest (the Great Western Divide) lies between Mt. Whitney and Sequoia National Park.
Time flies!....it's time to descend. I spent about an hour at the summit and it was around 1:30pm when I began descending.
Rocky trail continues surrounded by granite landscape. This is Alpine zone.
Thor
Peak (12,300’) towers over Mirror Lake at 10,640’. No camping allowed
here. A few hundred feet below Mirror Lake is Outpost Camp, where my
base camp is.
A lone pine (foxtail pine) and Thor Peak-12,300’.
A beautiful lush meadow opens up down at Outpost Camp. I do remember hearing the sound of a waterfall and creeks as I slept.
Approaching the meadow where I set up my camp last night. Outpost Camp, 10.400'.
After
Outpost Camp, there are many creek crossings along the trail. You notice vegetation becomes more
dense - it’s Montane zone. The trail goes through the montane chaparral
community – drought resistant evergreen shrubs such as mountain
mahogany, bush chinquapin, etc. are among them. White firs and Jeffery
pines join the forest community along the trail from Lone Pine Lake
(9,850’) to the trailhead – Whitney Portal (8,360’). The end of the journey!
Mt. Whitney casts its sunset shadow over the meadow by Outpost Camp and Lone Pine Peak.
Lone pine and Lone Pine Peak (12,944’) near sunset.
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