As far as trails go in the lower 48, this is one for the books. Mount whitney or tumanguya is a mountain in eastern california. As you enjoy the great outdoors dont leave your brain at home. You can day hike it or backpack it, but you will need a permit lottery. In this exclusive book, experienced adventure hike leader suki teaches you. She does an excellent job of breaking down the hike into sections, goes over mountain. You have to apply to the lottery during a specific timeframe with the number of people in your party and whether you are going to do the day hike or camp on the trail. The only american mountains higher than whitney are in alaska, which has seven higher peaks including denali, the highest peak in north america. Mt whitney trail overnight 2days technical approaches to whitney summit. The best time to climb mt whitney is in the months of july and august.
Whitney, the highest peak in california, requires a permit and careful preparation. Use the wire provided with the permit to string it around your backpack, on the top, where it can be seen at all times while hiking. The enchantment of the john muir trail draws hikers from across the united state and around the world. Whitney is one of the most ventured peaks in the eastern sierra, dominating the skyline of the tiny town of lone pine. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states and as such is the goal of many a hiker and mountaineer. As the highest point on the mainland united states, mount whitney is a popular destination for avid hikers. The start of the hike, the mt whitney portal has everything from campsites and waterfalls to a restaurant and fishing lake. Best time to climb mt whitney climbing mount whitney. Heres everything you need to know and do for the mt whitney hike, including. Located on the eastside of californias beautiful sierra nevada mountains, the mt whitney trail starts in inyo national forest at whitney portal, 8,300 feet above. Read how close to tragedy this climber was before initiating rescue with her.
Everything you need to know to successfully hike californias. The first part will be dealing with backpack entry points on. The mt whitney hike is on every hikers bucket list. I managed to summit mount whitney in a day this week. The hike to get there on the main whitney trail is 22 miles with 6,000 feet of elevation gain. From the lowest spot in north america 280 ft below sea level to the highest point in the contiguous united states 14,495 ft. Whitney start from the east side of the sierra and remain in inyo national forest throughout their hike. The trail starts at happy isles in yosemite national park ynp and ends on the summit of mount whitney, the tallest. In spring and into early summer, expect snow and ice on the trail which can.
Mount whitney is only 76 miles from badwater in death valley national park, which is the lowest point in the united states. Complete descriptions of 17 routes to the summit of mount whitney three new hiking routes. If you plan to hike during the nonquota season, you can just drop by the permit office and pick one up. The hike to get there on the main whitney trail is 22 miles with 6,000 feet of elevation g. Reaching an elevation of 14,508 feet, it towers more than 10,000 vertical feet above the owens valley, and because of its lofty position, it is the most sought after peak in all of north america. Mount whitney is the highest mountain in the contiguous united states or the lower 48 states. Although the hike is nontechnical, wouldbe hikers need to. Mount whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous united states and the sierra nevada, with an elevation of 14,505 feet 4,421 m.
Whitney is a gem that every californian should experience. As the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, californias 14, 505foot mt. Youve got to plan and research, then hit the trail. A wellmaintained trail on the south side takes the vast majority of these people to the top and back. Mount whitney trail lone pine 2020 all you need to. Climbing mt whitney in northern california by christopher arns, and elizabeth linhart veneman, author of moon northern california.
Summiting mt whitney is on every hikers bucket list. A good number of backpackers choose to hike northbound from whitney or even horseshoe meadowcottonwood lakes because permits are easier to obtain. You could spend a lot of time just camping here and taking in the sites without even going on the mt. A more common common scenario is to make a trip of a few days to mt whitney, maybe acclimatize, and enjoy the area. Mount whitney is not a hike you just show up and do. It is located in eastcentral california, on the boundary between californias inyo and tulare counties, 84. Mount whitney, 2nd edition everything you need to know to successfully hike californias highest peak.
We also hiked in the santa monica mountains and summited 12,590 ft. Others hike the trail in sections, entering from lateral trails along the way. Mount whitney trail lone pine 2020 all you need to know. How to get a permit to hike the john muir trail the trek. Mt whitney, located in the eastern sierra of california, is the highest mountain of the contiguous u.
With some careful planning, some conditioning, and the right mental attitude this can be a successful day and an unforgettable experience. Mt whitney in the california sierra nevada is the highest peak in the contiguous united states. Mount whitney, of the california sierra nevada, holds numerous distinctions. This makes mount whitney the tallest mountain in the contiguous united states. Unfortunately, bureaucracy has increasingly spoiled the whole magic. Besides going to the whitney lecture, we also prepared for the hike by reading books on.
Whitney trailhead campgrounds 25 walkin campsites are within walking distance of the main trails. However, the ams might have started already, you just dont feel it yet because symptoms like headache may be delayed by. Everything you need to know to successfully hike californias highest peak wenk, elizabeth on. Because it is the most frequently climbed mountain peak in the sierra nevada, a permit system is in place to minimize the impact of. Whitney, such as the shakyleg crack variation or the cardiovascular seizure. Make new friends, learn backcountry skills, and enjoy epic views. My father larry manth and i did the hike in about 20 hours and the book was invaluable. Mount whitney is the second highest ultraprominent peak in the lower 48 u. At 14,505 feet, its the highest point in the lower 48. 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. Whitney outandback in one day, but given the rigor and the length of the trail, a very early start from about 24am is recommended, as well as significant prior training for the long day. Your permit must be visible as you hike anywhere in the mt. Whitney lies on the boundary of sequoia national park and inyo national forest. Everything you need to know to successfully hike californias highest peak.
Gone is the snow and ice during this period, or at least mostly, and those attempting less technical climbs wont need to rely on a bunch of special equipment. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, ice climbing, and backpacking and is best used from april until october. Most people tackle mt whitney as a 22 mile roundtrip day hike. Mount whitney an invaluable resource when trying to visualize and prepare for this hike. It was my first time on the mountain and the first time camping at whitney portal. The complete trailheadtosummit hiking guide paul richins jr. If you begin in sequoia national park and approach mt. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. She does an excellent job of breaking down the hike into sections, goes over mountain safety and altitude sickness, and generally just offers all sorts of helpful information. Looking east from the summit since moving to california and after climbing all 58 of colorados 14ers, it was natural to look in. Whitney ranger district, po box 8, lone pine, ca 93545, 7608766200, for additional information about this trailhead. Even for those not hiking mt whitney, a trip through the i395 and eastern sierra area is a. As far as books go, i found elizabeth wenks one great hike. The brainchild of brett blisterfree tucker creator of the grand enchantment trail, the approximately 5 mile journey t.
Eastern sierra, high sierra backpacking, mount whitney map, hike, inyo national forest, eastern sierra, mount whitney map by tom harrison, hike, inyo national forest, eastern sierra hikes, mt whitney california topo, waterproof, topographic maps california, sierra whitney hike, high country trails, california sierra mountains durable. Mount whitney and millions of other books are available for. This map details the route up to the top of whitney, as well as down to whitney portal. Whichever way you hike it, this is one of the most memorable hikes in california. Climbing mt whitney in northern california moon travel. We are based in mammoth lakes, california so the bulk of the information will be dealing with the area from mt.
Although the hike is nontechnical, wouldbe hikers need to be prepared for the altitude, long distance, elevation gain, mountain weather, and other potential dangers. Whitney on a 20s and 30s trip with the sierra club. The john muir trail jmt is a classic trail that covers 211 miles of scenic beauty in the sierra nevada mountain range in california. Things nobody tells you about hiking mt whitney upon 2020.
As the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, california s 14,505foot mt. To prepare to hike mount whitney, you will need to get a permit, map out your hiking route, and train so. We traveled to california to do the hike and the book provided all the information we needed. 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. Its also ranked as the 11th highest peak in the united states the remaining ten are in alaska and 24th in north america. The john muir trail official ends on the summit of mount whitney, but we still had to hike down to whitney portal where our car was parked. As the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, californias 14,505foot mt. A vagabond journey from death valley to mount whitney, one best hike. Mount conness in yosemite mostly offtrail hiking the month before our mount whitney hike. Whitney trail are unbeatable, extending across the jagged granite peaks of the sierra nevada to the expansive owens river valley and beyond.
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