Mt. Whitney is the tallest US continental peak sitting at 14,494ft of elevation. Thousands of hikers flock to the Sierras when the permit system opens up every year to win a chance at climbing this beast. This year it was my turn to challenge myself to hike one of California's holy grails.
When applying for the permit there are two options: day hike or overnight camp. My best advice to anyone now that I have done this hike is to break this hike up into 2 days, maybe 3 depending on how active you are and how much time you have spent in high elevation.
I broke it up into 2 days and if I could redo it, I would have done it in 2 nights instead of 1. Adjusting to the elevation at Trail Camp for a night would have made the summit more enjoyable.
Packing List
This will vary based on when you won the lottery but I went at the end of May.
- base layer long sleeve and pants
- wool socks
- extra pair of socks
- waterproof hiking boots
- crampons
- thermal mid layer
- down jacket
- extra long sleeve
- gloves
- hat or headband
- sunglasses
- trekking poles
- ice axe: we did not end up needing it this time, but there are precautions of having one if you hike in May when the snow is melting
- sleeping bag
- sleep mat
-tent
- water purification: there are small lakes or streams at both camp sites
- 4L of water total give or take
- 45L backpack
My Hiking Schedule
Sleeping in Lone Pine area near the road that leads to the trailhead is the best way to make sure there is no time being wasted in getting ready in the morning. As an overnight camper for Mt. Whitney I planned to start the hike at 5am. Anyone planning to do the summit and then camp out at Trail Camp or Outpost Camp should start between 3-5am. This gives plenty of time for breaks, any issues you may run into, and to finish before the sun sets.
I hiked to Outpost Camp which is 4 miles, and that is where an MRE breakfast was made. I started the day with a breakfast smoothie to give my body easy calories when I wasn't feeling hungry yet. From Outpost to Trail camp it's another 3 miles. If you are camping overnight I recommend leaving your extra weight at a camp spot. I dropped my sleeping bag and tent to lighten the load a little.
Once at Trail Camp you will have to do what feels like 1,000 switchbacks to get to the backside of the mountain to get to the summit. Plan accordingly for food breaks and bring plenty of electrolytes to help from becoming dehydrated.
From the summit back down to Trail Camp is 7 miles, so plan carefully on the way up, paying attention to the amount of time it is taking to summit. Listen to your body if you feel light headed, nausea, or dehydrated. Trail Camp sits at 12,000ft of elevation which is taller than the average hike in California. That being said, from Trail Camp and on is when the elevation is going to hit your body the hardest.
Day 1: 15 miles (from car to summit and back down to Trail Camp)
Day 2: 7 miles (from Trail Camp down to car)
Tip: At Trail Camp refill any water to be fully loaded up for the summit. There is no where along the trail beyond that point to get water, and the hike to the summit is more exhausting because of the high elevation. Remaining hydrated is crucial.
Camping
When selecting a spot for camping when registering for a permit decide on how many days you are going to take to complete the hike. Outpost Camp sits 4 miles into the trail. This still requires a long hike to the summit as well as having to acclimate to the elevation at the top. The Outpost camp area has a ton of dirt patch spots, some being shaded by trees. There is a stream that runs through the camp making access to refill water very easy.
Trail Camp is where I recommend trying to get a camp spot. If you are breaking the hike up into 2 or 3 days this location allows for acclimating to elevation better, and will be a shorter hike down from the summit. At Trail Camp there is a large lake to get water from and spots that will have stone walls to help block the wind. A short distance down from this camping area is another set of spots that are nested in the hillside facing Consultation Lake. This is where I camped. It had a beautiful view of the mountains and I was able to find a spot that was sheltered in case of the wind.
This is by far one of the hardest hikes I have challenged myself to completing. I would definitely train for this hike as much as possible to help with strength, and elevation comfort. I hiked San Jacinto, and several other hikes that pushed not only distance, but rapid elevation change. Mount Whitney is no easy accomplishment, but the views and hike are worth the try!
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