Often called the "rooftop of Virginia," all of the state above 5,000 feet in elevation is in this area where the three counties of Grayson, Washington, and Smyth meet. The trail starts at the Whitney Portal Campground. Mt Whitney is the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, but it’s not a technically challenging mountain to climb. The sign at the trailhead indicates the 211 mile distance to Mount Whitney. [Fig. The summit of Mt. Also a side note, you won’t be able to see Mt. The Whitney Portal trailhead, known as a popular route to Mt. Even if you decide not to summit, enjoy camping in … Sitting proudly at 14,505 ft, Mt Whitney is the tallest peak in the lower 48 states. Permits to hike to the summit of Mt. I didn’t spend much of my time here at the start of the hike but I enjoyed a well-deserved bacon cheese burger after the long ~22 mile hike. We’ll hit the sack early in preparation for our attempt of Mt. Whitney (14,505' elevation, and the highest point in the lower 48). Look for the campground on the south side of the road. Our group decided that we would hike the first 6 miles to trail camp, spend the night, and then summit and complete the descent on the second day. There is a lot of trail wandering in the Alabama Hills and a short drive up into the hills puts you onto The Pacific Crest Trail, John Muir Trail and the High Sierras. The Night I Thought Would Be My Last My first backpacking trip was an exciting prospect, but little did I know what a disaster it would turn out to be. Today’s hiking will get us within striking distance of Mt Whitney. However, if you’re feeling any effects of the altitude, it can be better for your body to sleep at a camp at lower altitude to acclimate. From the lowest spot in North America (280 ft below sea level) to the highest point in the contiguous United States (14,495 ft). The lower portion of the trail is open year-round. Mt. Mt. The campsites suggested below are for hikers who wish to make the trek to Mt. Whitney Trail, according to … Topping off at 14,505 feet. Whitney trail is a steep and rocky trail, with many switch backs, which starts at the upper (west) end of Whitney Portals Campground. San Gorgonio, at an elevation of 11,502 feet, is the tallest peak in Southern California and is … John Muir Trail Overview. Camping on the Main Mt Whitney Trail usually takes place at either Outpost Camp (3), or Trail Camp (6). For the backpacker attempting to go up and back on the Mt. Whitney June … Read More Our first climb takes us along the Merced River and past Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. JMT137. Every year, thousands of hikers and climbers beat down the Mount Whitney Trail. We camped at the Whitney Portal Campground Monday night to try to acclimatize and then started out on the Mount Whitney Trail Tuesday morning around 6:30am bound for Trail Camp. The Ravine walk-in campground is $11 per site and night. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48. Water bladder&bottle and water filter (refill at Trail Camp and any of the streams you find below it) Sunglasses, Hat, face protection, sunblock. An 8 day trip from Lodgepole to Whitney Portal across the southern Sierra Nevada mountains, summiting Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States. From the Cottonwood Pass Trailhead Campground, head west for 4.1 miles, where you will meet up with the Pacific Crest Trail at Cottonwood Pass. The Whitney Portal Store, located 13 miles west of Lone Pine, lies next to the Mount Whitney trail head and has operated by permit from the Inyo National Forest since 1987. This trail is about 21 miles round trip and 6,000 feet of elevation, so it is no joke! Head North (right), and just after the pass is Chicken Spring Lake, which is … The hike from Crabtree Meadow to Guitar Lake is a little over three miles and about 1000 vertical feet. DAY SIX on the High Sierra Trail — This was a short, easy day to prepare for summiting Mt Whitney. The Mt Whitney high altitude/sickness, 550' of elevation gain per mile and rocky terrain combined to make this one of the toughest physical and mental endurance challenges I've ever taken on. To view section maps showing greater detail, click on any of 9 rectangles on the overview map. Whitney // Consultation Lake is a terrific base camp for summiting Mt. We’ll travel over moderate trail through foxtail Pine Forests, unique to Sequoia National Park. Hikers are drawn to the majestic scenery and challenging trails of the Whitney Portal recreation area. From the parking area, hike across the campground along a series of paved driveways and follow the signs through a summer home area. The Whitney Portal is the gateway to Mt. There’s also a notice board you can check for any last minute updates. It is a bit harder to reach: park in the overflow parking lot, and head down the mountain on an almost-unmarked trail towards the east. It is 8.7 miles along the trail. Supporter. Existing as the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney is located in California and stands at a whopping 14,505 feet (4421 meters) tall. With the increasing popularity of the classic John Muir Trail (JMT), which goes from Happy Isles in Yosemite National Park to Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft), the highest peak in the 48 contiguous states Difficult trail, better suited for experienced backpackers Mt. Notable landmarks along the way include the Crabtree ranger station, Guitar Lake, and the Trail Crest intersection, where hikers make the final push along the 2.4-mile Mt. 34] High, wild, and lovely, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (NRA) is unique in Virginia. The Whitney Portal Store, located 13 miles west of Lone Pine, lies next to the Mount Whitney trail head and has operated by permit from the Inyo National Forest since 1987. You can the… Head North (right), and just after the pass is Chicken Spring Lake, which is … Part of the Whitney Portal Recreation area located 13 miles from the town of Lone Pine, California. We are five miles from the world famous Alabama Hills. Whitney Zone. Distance: 210.4 (official length ending at Whitney summit) / 221 total miles (end-to-end length with summit of Whitney and descent to Whitney Portal) . Mt. Preparation: Some websites with plenty of information: Mt Whitney Trail Info — WhitneyZone FAQ — Maps and Diagrams for water availability, campsites, switchbacks, and so on. Whitney trail. This is true. But let’s be real… this trailhead campground ain’t so bad itself. There were an abundance of stream crossings but we researched and prepared properly and had brought sandals along for these crossings. Mt Whitney, in California, is the highest peak in the lower 48 states at 14,505 feet.When the trail is free of snow in the summer months to early fall, you can follow a well maintained trail up to the summit. This trail is a steady 11 mile climb from the Whitney Portal to the summit, and is usually free of snow from July to late September. Whitney Trail. Mt Whitney T-Shirt "The Rest is Down Hill". The final 22.2 miles, including a summit push of Mt. Recommended Maps: JMT Map Pack, Mt. The alarm went off at 3 a.m. Site 8 was very nice. Mt Whitney Dirty Dozen Hike 2: Mt Lukens. The Plan: Arrive Friday in the evening. Whitney, the highest peak in California. The rest of the way, she hides from view. Mount Carillon (13,549') - Mount Russell (14,088') - Mount Whitney (14,494') - Mount Muir (14,012) Mount Whitney is located in California’s Sierra Nevada Range, and is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. I pulled into the Mt. Outpost Camp is 3.5 miles in and sits at 10,400 feet, this is a beautiful campsite with a waterfall. Trail Facts. Featuring a 22.5 mile out-and-back trail involving a 6,656 foot elevation gain, hiking Mount Whitney is on virtually every hiker’s bucket list. Whitney in the morning. 10 Best Campsites on the John Muir Trail. After spending a good hour and a half on top, I started making my way down around 10:30am. Muir is the same as for Mt. Hamilton Lake to Big Arroyo Junction – 7.9 miles, 2,570′ ascent. Views from Mount Whitney Summit Views from Mount Whitney Summit Me, Peter, Marty and Ross. Whitney Hiking Trails. People could ride a horse to the summit. There was still 12.5 miles to go with a 6,000 foot descent. Be sure to check the Red Tape section on the main Mount Whitney page. I was driven — summiting Mount Whitney was my long-awaited dream. Whitney Portal Campground rests in the shadow of Mt. The popular campground is a base camp for people who hike/climb Mt. It is also near the launch point for trekkers up to Mt Whitney. If you come in a day before your hike, I suggest that you camp at Whitney Portal the night before your first day on the Onion Valley to Whitney Portal Trail. Camping is allowed along most of the trail, more than 100 ft (30 m) from water, but level ground that meets that description is extremely limited, so most backpackers congregate in two camps. Whitney Portal campground has 43 campsites scattered along the banks of Lone Pine Creek and among a beautiful pine forest in the eastern Sierra Mountain range. Hiking Mount Whitney | Advice to Reach this 14er Summit. Parking for the walk-in campground is at the hiker and overflow parking lots at Whitney Portal. Camping at Mount Whitney If you have a two-day permit for the hike, there are camping accommodations on Mount Whitney. Whitney. Sat: Hike Whitney Trail up to Lone Pine Lake. It was blocked from the road by big boulders. Highlights. April 7, 2021 by Kristina Ritchie. Whitney Backpacking Tour Day 1 Begin in Fresno, California. There are several books on the subject of hiking Mount Whitney at book sites such as Amazon.com.You can click on books and search for Mount Whitney.The book Mount Whitney: Mountain Lore from the Whitney Store by Doug Thompson, Elisabeth Newbold (Paperback - December 1, 2002) has Doug Sr. from the Whitney Portal Store as … Whitney for southbound hikers, as such it is an extremely popular camping area. Whitney Trailhead starts at the visitor center and ends at the Mt. $3.95. USGS Topos Mount Whitney; Mount Langley Map Mt. Quick Facts. Whitney and the challenge that lies ahead. In all wilderness areas along the John Muir Trail (JMT) campsites must be on The campground provides water and restrooms. 43 Single campsites, Some sites may be reserved in advance, while others are available on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Weighed down by over-stuffed packs and 5-pound boots they trudge up thousands of feet of rock and sand to reach the coveted 14,505-foot summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. First, the drive from Lone Pine to Whitney Portal is worthwhile on its own. Whitney is at the top of their hiking bucket list. There are multiple areas where the trail branches into different routes. When: August 2020 Route: Horseshoe Meadow to Mount Whitney via Cottonwood Pass Nights on Trail: 4 Miles: ~33 Shuttle: East Side Sierra Shuttle (Great!). Mt Whitney Wishpet Bear. Camping at Consultation Lake was considerably less crowded than Trail Camp, located a short ways before Trail Camp along the Mt Whitney Trail. Whitney is 22 miles roundtrip with about 6,100 vertical feet of elevation gain. Whitney hike. Mt. This trail is a steady 11 mile climb from the Whitney Portal to the summit, and is usually free of snow from July to late September. Some continue to Mt Whitney following the Mountaineer Route. The start of the hike, the Mt Whitney Portal has everything from campsites and waterfalls to a restaurant and fishing lake. For those with more time to spend on the trail, some alternate campsites are mentioned in the summary of distances at the end of this description. You can also opt to strap items like a tent or sleeping pad to the outside of a smaller pack. Camping is not allowed in the parking lot. You had to go through the boulders to get to the campsite. The campground offers a clear view of Mt. ... Outpost Camp is 3.5 miles and 2000+feet up the trail from Whitney Portal. Many people make this a two-day hike camping at Outpost Camp or 12,000 ft Trail Camp. Whitney, a mountain over 14,000 feet is a must for climbers coming from sea level. Detailed trail report of a wilderness trip. The Whitney Portal is the gateway to Mt. The route is concurrent with the Mt Whitney Trail from Whitney Portal (8300') [8th camp: Whitney Portal Campground walk-in backpacker campsites, reservations required] to Trail Crest, then follows the John Muir Trail to its terminus at Mt Whitney's summit. The hike is 22 miles round trip gaining just over 6700 feet of elevation.. Beginning of the Mt Whitney trail at Whitney Portal, 8,374 feet above sea level At 14,505 feet, it’s the highest point in the lower 48. As I mentioned above, there’s not a huge amount you have to bring to hike Mount Whitney in one day. Pick up a book/video about the trail. The trail begins in the Lone Pine Campground at 5,900 feet elevation in the Great Basin Desert and climbs four miles along the south rim of Lone Pine Creek to Whitney Portal at 8,400 feet elevation in the sub-alpine zone of the Sierra Nevada. It winds over 6100ft in just five miles, less than half the distance of the main Mt Whitney Trail. It’s graded as a class 1 hike from trailhead to summit top, however it’s a long 22 miles round …