Mount Whitney trail
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| Mount Whitney Trail | |
|---|---|
 Trail Crest, at 13,600 feet (4,150 m) |
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| Length | 22 miles (35.4 km) |
| Location | Inyo National Forest, California, U.S. |
| Trailheads | Whitney Portal |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation Change | Over 6,100 feet (1,860 m) |
| Highest Point | Mount Whitney 14,505 feet (4,421 m) |
| Lowest Point | Whitney Portal 8,360 feet (2,548 m) |
| Trail Difficulty | Strenuous |
| Months | Peak season is May to November |
The Mount Whitney Trail is a trail that ascends Mount Whitney. It starts at Whitney Portal at 8,360' (2,548 m), 13 miles (21 km) west of the town of Lone Pine, California. The hike is about 22 miles (35.4 km) round trip with an elevation gain of over 6,100 ft (1,859 m). This trail is extremely popular and its access is restricted between May 1st and November 1st, permitting 60 backpackers and 100 day hikers daily for the MWT.
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[edit] Camping
Camping is allowed along most of the trail, more than 100 feet (30 m) from water, but level ground that meets that description is extremely limited, so most backpackers congregate in two camps. Outpost Camp, the lower of the two camps, is 3.8 miles (6.1 km) west of the trailhead at 10,365' (3,159 m), near a waterfall in a forested area just above Bighorn Meadow. Trail Camp, where most will base camp prior to their summit ascent, is 6.3 miles (10.1 km) from the trailhead at 12,000' (3,658 m), in a rocky (and often windy) basin above treeline. This is also the last place where there is a reliable water source. The lake at the trail camp has algae from the human waste deposits and needs to be purified before drinking. If streams on the switchbacks have water, it would be preferable to the water from the lake. A water pump or purifying+neutralizing tablets work well. Most hikers will take between 2 and 4 days to complete this trip, although many people attempt to summit as part of a very long dayhike.
This hike as a day hike is very doable for an experienced hiker in good shape, who has done some training at altitude and is prepared for a very long day.
[edit] Bears
Backpackers are required to carry a bear-resistant canister; these can be rented at the Interagency Visitors Center south of Lone Pine or the Whitney Portal Store for a nominal fee. Black bears are still very common on the MWT slope from the portal up through the land overlooking Outpost Camp. Night sightings of these bears are not unusual. When traveling at night, hikers are advised to wield a bright headlight and a shrill whistle; making many strange, loud noises will alert the bears to human presence. If possible, hikers should travel in a larger group as bears are much less likely to approach a group than a single person.
[edit] Waste
Human waste management was a major problem at Mount Whitney, and in 2006 the Inyo National Forest instituted a mandatory "pack it out" program. The Forest Service removed the solar latrines at Outpost Camp in 2006, and the final one at Trail Camp in 2007. Hikers are given a "WAG Bag" intended for human waste products at no charge.[1]
[edit] Route
The main Mount Whitney trail is very easy to follow and is generally well maintained, and usually requires no climbing or winter gear once the mountain clears of snow and ice, usually by mid-July. Beyond Trail Crest though there is a section where you will lose altitude and will have to gain altitude on the return. Also the trail on this 'backside' can be challenging as some sections of the trail must be rebuilt after every winter season. The views are extraordinary on a clear day but some folks will be dismayed as the trail bends around some precarious ledges. Caution is essential on any hike but more so here due the distance from the trail head. A one day trip up the MWT usually starts between 2 and 4 AM. Most successful hikers will complete the trip in between 10 and 20 hours.
[edit] Weather
The Mount Whitney area is notorious for its unpredictable weather. Common advice is to be off of the peak by noon during the summer monsoon season. This weather pattern is usually seen between June and mid-September. Lightning is the major concern during the monsoon season.
[edit] Whitney Portal and trail in popular culture
The 1941 film High Sierra is set in part at Whitney Portal and features a car chase up the Whitney Portal Road. The 1954 film, The Long, Long Trailer is also set in part along the Whitney Portal Road.
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Managing Your Human Waste While Visiting Mt. Whitney. Inyo National Forest. United States Forest Service. Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
