14 hours round trip from Whitney Portal, starting at 3:30am.
punchline - Sep 23, 2013 10:24 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2013
Via Trail Camp
Due to a change in my vacation plans at work I ended up with the week of Sept 16th open. On a whim I read a Mt Whitney webpage with a link to the permit site. Unbelievably, there were 7 open permits for 9/18 so away we went. Beautiful, easy trail and the 99 switchbacks were not an issue although we heard a lot of people complaining? Also saw a lot of people that probably shouldn't have been up there - doubled over on their trekking poles an hour up the trail ... Perfect summit day - blue skies and no wind - beer and burgers upon our return to Whitney Portal. Not too many people as it was mid-week.
dakine - Sep 17, 2013 4:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2013
Dayhike main trail
After a week of monsoon the weather finally cleared. Started out at 7:00 a.m. and the trailhead was like a ghost town. I recommend using poles for this trail, I didn't bring mine but wish I had.
AFmountaineer - Sep 16, 2013 12:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2013
Long Day Hike
Did Mt Whitney trail in a day, pretty lengthy day but the views were worth it.
douggranger - Sep 12, 2013 8:14 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 1991
Final peak of my California trip. Up and down in 10 hours.
Jimmy Rivers - Sep 11, 2013 12:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2013
Just simply amazing!
State HP #27. This was my favorite summit by far! The views were spectacular, and i had some emotion as i stood on the lower 48's tallest peak. The trail wasn't too difficult, though very long and my body was exhausted beyond belief upon finishing. Camping at trail camp at 12k feet in the boulder field was neat. I am so happy with my experience there, and will remember it for a long time. Mt Whitney, wohoooo!!
Climbed this bad boy via the mountaineers route and descended the main trail. This was my first time up the mountain on any route and my Dad's third (he climbed via the main trail his other two times) and we thouroughly enjoyed our climb. It was a perfect day on the mountain in the morning, sunny and warm until above iceberg lake. The consensus between us was that the mountaineers route kicks the crap out of the main trail and is a ton more fun to climb, however we can't comment on descending it although the trail is long and boring. The views of the peak are far superior to that of the main trail and we only saw like 7 people all day, none of them dayhiking like we were. It snowed on us a little bit up at the top. It was a long ass day but absolutely fantastic.
Best day ever...
Climb the mountaineers route.
WZimmerman - Sep 6, 2013 4:37 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2007
Mount Whitney via Trail Crest
It rained in the night ... it snowed in the early morning. Snow in August! I was wearing shorts. I did not have the sense to turn back as others did on the way up the snow-lined 99 switchbacks -- and I'm glad of that. Alone I was with God on the summit that morning. The combination of spectacular views and peace and serenity cannot be described. This trek was an experience like no other.
jeffh25 - Sep 4, 2013 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2013
HP # 39
Completely socked in and zero view so I felt kind of cheated. Then it started sleeting... Overall an awesome experience though. I didn't feel like the 99 switchbacks were as bad as I thought. Hiking back uphill to Trail Crest on the way down was awful though. It's not a long stretch but your body's had enough up at that point.
JordanH - Sep 4, 2013 7:19 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2009
Mt. Whitney
Elevation is tough, but great views during last hour!
THalky - Sep 3, 2013 11:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2013
HP #27
Camped at trail camp. 99 switchbacks went on forever, but making it to the highest point in the lower 48 was well worth the time it took to get there.
Borolf - Aug 29, 2013 10:56 pm Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2013
Mountaineers Route
Great weather and climb with SWS
AirMason - Aug 21, 2013 4:20 pm Date Climbed: Jan 15, 2012
MLK Day Backpack
Started at Lone Pine Campground for fear of it being too snowy at Whitney Portal. Stayed at outpost camp. Summitted next day. Very little snow for January. Very windy storm hit on way down, but there was little snow falling.
AirMason - Aug 21, 2013 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Nov 11, 2012
Whitney and Muir
-7 F the night before at 12000 ft. Warmed up on Summit day. 15 F felt really warm in the sun.
lalpinist - Aug 19, 2013 3:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2013
Slow & Easy
I missed this hike last year (Mountaineer's Route) because I got hit by a car riding my bike two weeks before my trip. But I made it this year (standard route) with a lot of advil ...
Semi-cloudy day. Only one or two patches of snow remained. Easy route.
Donno - Aug 11, 2013 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 1990
2nd ascent
W/ dad, Doug & Jim Fithian
Donno - Aug 11, 2013 10:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 1986
Trail
First California fourteener
MarekB - Aug 9, 2013 5:35 pm Date Climbed: Apr 27, 2013
MR
I liked the MR, although there could have been more snow. AND I would have enjoyed the summit a bit more if I wasn't ill with (what turned out to be) mono...
wildanessX - Sep 28, 2013 8:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2013
Main Trail3am start, made the summit at around 11:15am. Was pretty fatigued upon return, but very much so enjoyed my day on the trail.
Hohniker - Sep 25, 2013 6:34 pm
Very long walk14 hours round trip from Whitney Portal, starting at 3:30am.
punchline - Sep 23, 2013 10:24 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2013
Via Trail CampDue to a change in my vacation plans at work I ended up with the week of Sept 16th open. On a whim I read a Mt Whitney webpage with a link to the permit site. Unbelievably, there were 7 open permits for 9/18 so away we went. Beautiful, easy trail and the 99 switchbacks were not an issue although we heard a lot of people complaining? Also saw a lot of people that probably shouldn't have been up there - doubled over on their trekking poles an hour up the trail ... Perfect summit day - blue skies and no wind - beer and burgers upon our return to Whitney Portal. Not too many people as it was mid-week.
dakine - Sep 17, 2013 4:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2013
Dayhike main trailAfter a week of monsoon the weather finally cleared. Started out at 7:00 a.m. and the trailhead was like a ghost town. I recommend using poles for this trail, I didn't bring mine but wish I had.
AFmountaineer - Sep 16, 2013 12:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2013
Long Day HikeDid Mt Whitney trail in a day, pretty lengthy day but the views were worth it.
douggranger - Sep 12, 2013 8:14 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 1991
Main routeGreat day with Dave & Dave
TyC - Sep 11, 2013 10:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2013
3 highest in California in a weekFinal peak of my California trip. Up and down in 10 hours.
Jimmy Rivers - Sep 11, 2013 12:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2013
Just simply amazing!State HP #27. This was my favorite summit by far! The views were spectacular, and i had some emotion as i stood on the lower 48's tallest peak. The trail wasn't too difficult, though very long and my body was exhausted beyond belief upon finishing. Camping at trail camp at 12k feet in the boulder field was neat. I am so happy with my experience there, and will remember it for a long time. Mt Whitney, wohoooo!!
jrnewmann - Sep 9, 2013 10:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2013
Mountaineers RouteClimbed this bad boy via the mountaineers route and descended the main trail. This was my first time up the mountain on any route and my Dad's third (he climbed via the main trail his other two times) and we thouroughly enjoyed our climb. It was a perfect day on the mountain in the morning, sunny and warm until above iceberg lake. The consensus between us was that the mountaineers route kicks the crap out of the main trail and is a ton more fun to climb, however we can't comment on descending it although the trail is long and boring. The views of the peak are far superior to that of the main trail and we only saw like 7 people all day, none of them dayhiking like we were. It snowed on us a little bit up at the top. It was a long ass day but absolutely fantastic.
Best day ever...
Climb the mountaineers route.
WZimmerman - Sep 6, 2013 4:37 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2007
Mount Whitney via Trail CrestIt rained in the night ... it snowed in the early morning. Snow in August! I was wearing shorts. I did not have the sense to turn back as others did on the way up the snow-lined 99 switchbacks -- and I'm glad of that. Alone I was with God on the summit that morning. The combination of spectacular views and peace and serenity cannot be described. This trek was an experience like no other.
jeffh25 - Sep 4, 2013 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2013
HP # 39Completely socked in and zero view so I felt kind of cheated. Then it started sleeting... Overall an awesome experience though. I didn't feel like the 99 switchbacks were as bad as I thought. Hiking back uphill to Trail Crest on the way down was awful though. It's not a long stretch but your body's had enough up at that point.
JordanH - Sep 4, 2013 7:19 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2009
Mt. WhitneyElevation is tough, but great views during last hour!
THalky - Sep 3, 2013 11:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2013
HP #27Camped at trail camp. 99 switchbacks went on forever, but making it to the highest point in the lower 48 was well worth the time it took to get there.
Borolf - Aug 29, 2013 10:56 pm Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2013
Mountaineers RouteGreat weather and climb with SWS
AirMason - Aug 21, 2013 4:20 pm Date Climbed: Jan 15, 2012
MLK Day BackpackStarted at Lone Pine Campground for fear of it being too snowy at Whitney Portal. Stayed at outpost camp. Summitted next day. Very little snow for January. Very windy storm hit on way down, but there was little snow falling.
AirMason - Aug 21, 2013 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Nov 11, 2012
Whitney and Muir-7 F the night before at 12000 ft. Warmed up on Summit day. 15 F felt really warm in the sun.
lalpinist - Aug 19, 2013 3:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2013
Slow & EasyI missed this hike last year (Mountaineer's Route) because I got hit by a car riding my bike two weeks before my trip. But I made it this year (standard route) with a lot of advil ...
Semi-cloudy day. Only one or two patches of snow remained. Easy route.
Donno - Aug 11, 2013 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 1990
2nd ascentW/ dad, Doug & Jim Fithian
Donno - Aug 11, 2013 10:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 1986
TrailFirst California fourteener
MarekB - Aug 9, 2013 5:35 pm Date Climbed: Apr 27, 2013
MRI liked the MR, although there could have been more snow. AND I would have enjoyed the summit a bit more if I wasn't ill with (what turned out to be) mono...