Mt Whitney

“I have two open spots for the Mt Whitney Main Trail on August 5th. I know this is late notice. However two of the twelve going had to cancel. So if you are interested email me at wld257@aol.com”

“Check your e-mail WLD !”

“Dang! Can't make it.

Is this a day hike?”

“Yes it is a dayhike. But the Main Whitney Trail is not to tough as long as you are acclimatized. Although it is sorta easy 11 miles up and 11 miles down with 6000' gain and loss. It is one of the funnest trails. The permits arre by lottery and everyone on the trail is smiling and having a good time. Because they want to be there. Even if they are suffering they were smiling.”

“You hve to have a permit to hike to Mt. Whitney??? For a day hike?”

“I would disagree with your description of the trail as "not too tough." I did the hike (with camping at the trailhead campground and at Trail Camp) when I was in nearly peak competitive running condition, and found it to be very difficult. In talking to many hikers over the years, my understanding is that altitude affects people in different ways - a day hike to Whitney could be reasonable for some, but absolutely impossible (and maybe dangerous) for others. You are absolutely right about the trail being so "fun," with everyone enjoying themselves, though. Definitely still the best hike I've ever done. Don't forget to check out the toilet near the top!!”

“What's sorta easy for WLD is tough for me - we're all different. I'll be out there struggling up Whitney on Monday too. Last year, the group of 15 that I went with summited at all different times. It took the quickest person just 6 hours to go the 11 miles from trailhead to summit and the slowest was about 11 hours. My time was close to 9 hours. I don't think I'll make it up there any faster this year. Although I don't usually get sick at high altitude, I start moving very slow (it almost feels like i'm in slow motion).”

“How many days are you taking to acclimatize?”

“I'll be there August 6-8. Dayiking to the summit on the 7th.”

“So you only need 1 day at altitude before going up. What kinda weather you expect right now? Snow ice axe climb or not? Sorry, don't mean to be a pain, just curious to see if its the type of think my gf might be interested in for next year around this time.”

“This is a Class One route. Not technical. Just a grunt.”

“I'm going up to Cottonwood Lakes, which is around 10,000 feet elevation, on either Saturday evening or Sunday Morning to acclimate for the hike up Whitney on Monday. Another day or two would be better, but last year I only spent the day before at Cottonwood Lakes and I was okay. I'll sleep at Whitney Portal on Sunday night and try to get started on Monday morning around 3 or 4 am up the trail.

The trail should be clear of snow and ice now, so crampons or an ice axe won't be necessary. Each year will be different depending on the amount of snow received during the winter.

I find that going at a slow but steady pace and driking lots of water and gatorade or another drink with electrolytes really helps me at higher altitude. I guess I'm much more like the tortoise than the hare except I see lot's of hares getting there before me.”

“I will be at cottonwoods Trailhead area 10k on Saturday morning. Then Sunday over to the White Mtn area. Where we will be near 13k. Then sleep at the Whitney trailhead Sunday night. Fort a dayhike on the Whitney Main Trail acclimitization is almost everything. You can be in so so shape and have a good chance of summiting if you are acclimitized. But even if you are in great shape and are not acclimitized you are probably going to struggle. If I were backpacking the Main Trail then I would not worry to much about it. I would acclimitize on the way up.”

“See you there!”

“"Dang! Can't make it.

Is this a day hike?"
Phil


Sorry you cannot make it Phil, we should get together for a trip sometime. Since we live so close to each other...”

“WLD - We do need to connect sometime. I'm right here at Cal Poly Pomona.

Did Whitney last August 6. We came in from the west after hiking along the PCT for 5 days. Had to carry our full packs to 13,500 ft!!! I am not sure how it would be doing the whole thing in one day. Maybe I'll try the Momyer Trail to the top of San Gorgonio as a trial run! (a truer test than Vivian Creek Trail).

Idaho Bob - The main trail to Mt. Whitney has been overused in the past. Now there is a quota with a lottery. They have solar toilets strategically placed along the way.”

“WLD - We do need to connect sometime. I'm right here at Cal Poly Pomona.

Did Whitney last August 6. We came in from the west after hiking along the PCT for 5 days. Had to carry our full packs to 13,500 ft!!! I am not sure how it would be doing the whole thing in one day. Maybe I'll try the Momyer Trail to the top of San Gorgonio as a trial run! (a truer test than Vivian Creek Trail).

Idaho Bob - The main trail to Mt. Whitney has been overused in the past. Now there is a quota with a lottery. They have solar toilets strategically placed along the way.”

“On my way in the mourning for three days.As you climb,look under each rock,I'll leave a couple of joints on the way.”

“Oh ,go up late.Then k..now one will keep you from sleeping at the top.You won't forget it.”

“sleeping on top - sounds nice”