| Whitney in a Day | |||||
| The Mount Whitney Trail covers 10.7 miles and 6,135 feet of elevation. Trail guides typically reference the nine stages described below. I've incorporated a conservative projected schedule. Many groups do the ascent in 7.5 to 9 hours. This schedule presumes an ascent of a bit longer than 10 hours and an average speed of 1 mph. Descents seem to take about 60-70% as long as the ascent. Our actual times have now been added. |
| Mount Whitney Trail | ||||
| Overall Statistics |
Whitney
Portal
|
8,361 ft |
Whitney
Summit
|
14,496 ft |
|
Elevation
Change
|
6,135 ft |
Average
Grade
|
11% | |
|
Trail
Length
|
10.7 miles |
Class
|
1 | |
|
Projected
Departure
|
4:00 am |
Actual
Departure
|
4:07 am | |
|
Projected
Arrival
|
2:20 pm |
Actual
Arrival
|
1:30 pm | |
|
Projected
Duration
|
10.3 hrs |
Actual
Duration
|
9:23 | |
|
Projected
Speed
|
1 mph |
Actual
Speed
|
1.1 mph | |
| Telephone Numbers |
Permits,
trail conditions, etc
|
760-876-6200 | ||
|
Wilderness
Information Line
|
760-873-2408 | |||
|
Inyo
County Search & Rescue
and Sheriff’s Dispatch |
760-876-5606 |
|||
|
Stage
1: Whitney Portal to John Muir Wilderness
|
||||
| Statistics |
Whitney
Portal
|
8,361 ft |
John
Muir Wilderness
|
8,480 ft |
|
Elevation
Change
|
119 ft |
Average
Grade
|
5% | |
|
Mile
|
.5 |
Stage
Distance
|
.5 | |
|
Projected
Arrival
|
4:30 am |
Actual
Arrival
|
4:33 am | |
|
Projected
Duration
|
.5 hrs |
Actual
Duration
|
:28 | |
|
Projected
Speed
|
1 mph |
Actual
Speed
|
1 mph | |
| Comments | The
trailhead is just east of the Whitney Portal store. This first half mile
moves through treeless terain and heads away from Mount Whitney until switchbacks
take you into the John Muir Wilderness. We may need headlamps in the predawn
hours. The trail is decomposed granite and sand though there are a few rocky
sections. |
|||
|
Stage
2: John Muir Wilderness to Lone Pine Lake
|
||||
| Statistics |
John
Muir Wilderness
|
8,480 ft |
Lone
Pine Lake
|
9,960 ft |
|
Elevation
Change
|
1,480 ft |
Average
Grade
|
14% | |
|
Mile
|
2.5 |
Stage
Distance
|
2.0 | |
|
Projected
Arrival
|
6:30 am |
Actual
Arrival
|
5:57 am | |
|
Projected
Duration
|
2.0 hrs |
Actual
Duration
|
1:24 | |
|
Projected
Speed
|
1 mph |
Actual
Speed
|
1.7 mph | |
| Comments | A
steady climb along nearly 30 switchbacks through pine trees and later through
a treeless area of chinquapin scrub oak, mountain mahogonay, and chaparral.
Lone Pine Creek will be on the left side of the trail as it cascades down
from Lone Pine Lake which is "perched on a glacial bench" overlooking
Whitney Portal and the Owens Valley. |
|||
|
Stage
3: Lone Pine Lake to Outpost Camp
|
||||
| Statistics |
Lone
Pine Lake
|
9,960 ft |
Outpost
Camp
|
10,365 ft |
|
Elevation
Change
|
705 ft |
Average
Grade
|
6% | |
|
Mile
|
3.8 |
Stage
Distance
|
1.3 | |
|
Projected
Arrival
|
7:10 am |
Actual
Arrival
|
6:32 am | |
|
Projected
Duration
|
40 mins |
Actual
Duration
|
35 mins | |
|
Projected
Speed
|
2 mph |
Actual
Speed
|
2.2 mph | |
| Comments | From
Lone Pine Lake the trail heads north towards the rocky cliffs of Mount Thor.
There are 17 switchbacks running along the Mount Rhor's southern cliffs.
At switchback #8 we might see a old, faded 3 mile marker. There is a solar
toilet at Outpost Camp and water can be found here but filter it carefully
-- because of potential runoff from heavily used camps further upstream. |
|||
|
Stage
4: Outpost Camp to Mirror Lake
|
||||
| Statistics |
Outpost
Camp
|
10,365 ft |
Mirror
Lake
|
10,640 ft |
|
Elevation
Change
|
285 ft |
Average
Grade
|
26% | |
|
Mile
|
4.0 |
Stage
Distance
|
.2 | |
|
Projected
Arrival
|
7:35 am |
Actual
Arrival
|
7:00 am | |
|
Projected
Duration
|
25 mins |
Actual
Duration
|
28 mins | |
|
Projected
Speed
|
.5 mph |
Actual
Speed
|
.5 mph | |
| Comments | At
Outpost Camp the crest of Mount Whitney comes into view as well as the area
of the "97 switchbacks" off to the west. This is a short stage
but very steep as the trail works its way up a granite escarpment. Along
the way the trail becomes a staircase with steps as high as a foot or more. |
|||
|
Stage
5: Mirror Lake to Trailside Meadows
|
||||
| Statistics |
Mirror
Lake
|
10,640 ft |
Trailside
Meadows
|
11,359 ft |
|
Elevation
Change
|
719 ft |
Average
Grade
|
14% | |
|
Mile
|
5.0 |
Stage
Distance
|
1.0 | |
|
Projected
Arrival
|
8:35 am |
Actual
Arrival
|
8:04 am | |
|
Projected
Duration
|
1 hr |
Actual
Duration
|
1:04 | |
|
Projected
Speed
|
1 mph |
Actual
Speed
|
1 mph | |
| Comments | From
here on up there are far fewer trees and thy disappear entirely as we climb
beyond the timberline. This stage is quite steep with the trail working
its way through fields of boulders and tall stair steps. Trailside Meadows
marks the halfway point. It's recommended that we have some food here because
from this point on altitude will become more of a problem -- including a
possbile reduction in appetite. |
|||
|
Stage
6: Trailside Meadows to Trail Camp
|
||||
| Statistics |
Trailside
Meadows
|
11,359 ft |
Trail
Camp
|
12,039 ft |
|
Elevation
Change
|
680 ft |
Average
Grade
|
10% | |
|
Mile
|
6.3 |
Stage
Distance
|
1.3 | |
|
Projected
Arrival
|
9:35 am |
Actual
Arrival
|
8:50 am | |
|
Projected
Duration
|
1 hr + :15 |
Actual
Duration
|
45 mins +30 | |
|
Projected
Speed
|
1 mph |
Actual
Speed
|
1.6 mph | |
| Comments | The
trail climbs sharply threw several moderate switchbacks. Along the way,
Consultation Lake will come into view along the left side of the trail.
Before we reach Trail Camp we should see signs for Trail Camp's solar toilet.
This is the last toilet. Also, the last water on the trail is here but purify
it carefully given the likely presence of giardia. The schedule includes
a 15 minute rest here before the 97 switchbacks of the next stage. |
|||
|
Stage
7: Trail Camp to Trail Crest
|
||||
| Statistics |
Trail
Camp
|
12,039 ft |
Trail
Crest
|
13,777 ft |
|
Elevation
Change
|
1,738 ft |
Average
Grade
|
15% | |
|
Mile
|
8.5 |
Stage
Distance
|
2.2 | |
|
Projected
Arrival
|
12:10 pm |
Actual
Arrival
|
11:23 am | |
|
Projected
Duration
|
2:20 hrs |
Actual
Duration
|
1:53 | |
|
Projected
Speed
|
1 mph |
Actual
Speed
|
1.2 mph | |
| Comments | This
is generally considered the most difficult stage. It is monotonously steep
as it zig-zags through ninety-seven switchbacks and 1,738 feet of elevation
in a little over 2 miles. A good mental attitude, a slow steady pace, and
a few candy or granola bars are said to be key here. About midway through
the swithbacks is a stretch of granite with cable hand rails that can be
a bit dicey if conditions get icy (not likely during daylight hours in September).
The reward for reaching Trail Crest is the breathtaking western vista that
finally comes into view. |
|||
|
Stage
8: Trail Crest to Trail Junction (Mount Whitney & John Muir)
|
||||
| Statistics |
Trail
Crest
|
13,777 ft |
Trail
Junction
|
13,480 ft |
|
Elevation
Change
|
-297 ft |
Average
Grade
|
-11% | |
|
Mile
|
9.0 |
Stage
Distance
|
.5 | |
|
Projected
Arrival
|
12:35 pm |
Actual
Arrival
|
11:50 am | |
|
Projected
Duration
|
25 mins |
Actual
Duration
|
27 mins | |
|
Projected
Speed
|
1 mph |
Actual
Speed
|
1 mph | |
| Comments | Yes,
this stage drops in altitude by 300 feet -- and just when the summit seems
in easy reach. |
|||
|
Stage
9: Trail Junction to Mount Whitney Summit
|
||||
| Statistics |
Trail
Junction
|
13,480 ft |
Summit
|
14,496 ft |
|
Elevation
Change
|
1,016 ft |
Average
Grade
|
11% | |
|
Mile
|
10.7 |
Stage
Distance
|
1.7 | |
|
Projected
Arrival
|
2:20 pm |
Actual
Arrival
|
1:30 pm | |
|
Projected
Duration
|
1:45 hrs |
Actual
Duration
|
100 mins | |
|
Projected
Speed
|
1 mph |
Actual
Speed
|
1 mph | |
| Comments | Stay on the Whitney Summit trail and be careful not to veer down the John Muir Trail. From here on the trail isnt' steep but it demands caution. It skirts cliffs and crawls along narrow rock ledges. If storms seem near reverse direction since there is no protection from lightning. Passing by Third Needle, Keeler Needle and Crooks Needle will afford spectacular views through the "windows" between them. The trail then deviates into different ones taken by many hikers between here and the top. And then we're there, top of the mountain! Stop, take a break, sign the register, head back down. | |||