Took 19 hours overall my first time. Took a nap at top of switchbacks and also at the top of summit. What a great feeling to complete it. We started at midnight and the timing worked out. Congrats on completion.
Thanks for sharing! It took me 18 hours last saturday too... the 99 switchback was painful and the last 1.9 miles hike to the summit felt like eternity. Congrats!!
Congrats to you too! Its such an incredible feeling when you get back down and know you just made the summit and back in one day right?? Definitely requires a persistent mindset. Yeah those last two miles might have been the worst even though not the hardest. But such unusual landscape and scenery on the back side. Was really cool to see!
Congratulations! I did that hike in 1990 at the age of 35. I started at Whitney Portal about 4 a.m. and made it to the top at 11am. Took a nap in the camp and made it down in time for dinner with my wife and son. The hardest day of my life without a doubt.
Wow that's a good effort! You made it up in 6 hours!!! Definitely a challenge, especially mentally when you've got to stop remembering how long the walk back is goin to be on the way up lol
@@RoadTripUSA Good point. The physical effort is only part of the narrative. You have to push back on those negative thoughts that creep into your mind telling you to turn around. Reaching the top and viewing the scenery is a true reward but pushing yourself to get there and back is the best rush of all.
It was our pleasure! We enjoy making these video's :) We did contemplate turning around (well one of us did anyway lol) but so glad we kept going. Even if it meant walking back in the dark for hours. Just thankful we had a warm van to go back to instead of freezing our butts off in a tent!!!
I'm late to the party, as usual, but just wanted to say; great job getting that done, and thank you for showing how rough it was! You guys were fit and super tough to push yourselves through that. Much lighter gear load, and light footwear like VivoBareFoot Primus Trail FG's would have made all the difference in the world.👊
Wow! Congrats on that. Awesome video and footage again. At one point I thought y'all would really give up, but you stuck with it! I envy you. I don't think I could do that now at my age. Looks like it would need to be broken down into a few days!! Lol. But the reward was worth it, huh?! You now have it down in the books! Well done!👍👍
Lol it was definitely a tough one! I don't think we realized how hard it was actually going to be, and hadn't hiked in months leading up to this haha. We kept going because I would never be able to forgive myself if we quit... and we were definitely the last ones back by a few extra hours. I think over two days would be a better option! Thanks for commenting :)
Awesome! Would love to be back in the Sierra's. We never mentioned this in the video but there is a cafe at the base serving pancakes bigger than the size of your head! They are amazing after an 18 hour hike lol. Good luck!
Very good video coverage. I wonder if you didn't take into consideration the altitude being your deficit. Clearly you are in great shape however, altitude will increase difficulty. Over night is the key, I hiked to the first plateau which is approx. 8 miles of switchbacks. My group did not go to the top, stayed overnight then came back down. Once we got to the rocks it was hard to find the path leading to top, of course this was late 70's. Im sure much has changed since then. Cudos!! Congrats!! You did it. Good job!!
Thank you :) I would say we could have been in better shape as we hadn't hiked in months previous to Mt Whitney due to other commitments but I'm sure the altitude had something to do with it too. I think a lot of other things come into play as well such as whether you got a good nights rest beforehand and whether you are mentally prepared. Yes, I think as an overnight it would be easier but also I'm not sure if I could carry such a heavy load up there. Congrats to you too! Still great even if you didn't make it to the top. It's just so beautiful and quiet up there!!
Yep, I would have to say coming back down was worse. I've always been okay with uphill but steep downhill hike's are always a killer on my legs! We did an overnight hike to a volcano once in Indonesia and I have no idea what happened to my legs but on the descent they went all wobbly, like I couldn't even take two steps without them collapsing underneath me. I was crying and didn't think I would make it out. Has never happened again though. Weird!!
In his 70's?? Wow that's a pretty good effort! I would love to attempt it again and aim for 15 hours... even though I know we said the day after we'd never do it again as a day hike but all the bad stuff has been erased from our minds now lol
Amazing! Congratulations to you guys too :) It's such an unforgettable experience!!! I feel like conquering this hike proves how strong you are mentally as well as physically. If you haven't been to Idaho before and you like to hike, look up the Sawtooth Mountain range. Fun trails out there too!
Road Trip USA I’ll see how my flybuys are going at the end of the year and I got a new discount package my work gave me. I’ll see if I can get some cash together
Road Trip USA i get discounts on random stuff like airfares and hotels, care hire etc but it doesn’t work with flybuys so have to see what works out better
Entertained the thought of doing it in one day for a couple of minutes. Then reality set in and decided on three days. Still I got quite ill from the altitude. I did make it to the top but I probably wouldn't do it again.
Congrats on making it up there! Isn't it incredible?! I think a lot of people say they would never do it again... I think I would do it again, but I'm sure we would regret it halfway lol
On a one day pass. Go to Mt Whitney Ranger Station (640 S Main St, Lone Pine. 760-876-6200). They have unlimited one day passes. Get your NEXT DAY pass and get some early sleep. Be at the trail start around 11:00 PM, and by the time you get to the park boundaries it will be @ midnight. Your day pass has started and and it's valid. If you time it right, you can be at the top at sunrise. And be back before night, good luck.
Get a next day pass at Lone Pine ranger station. (One Day pass is unlimited) Start your hike at 10 pm and by midnight you will be at the park boundaries (legal day hike). Take your time. And you will be back before dark.
Most challenging hike ever but all worth it! Fingers crossed you get a permit but if not you can still try for a walk up permit. That's how we got ours and they seemed to have quite a few for that following day.
Water is available at the trail head and there are lakes and streams on the way up until you get to Trail Camp, but once you hit the switchbacks there is nothing.
It took us almost 19 hours I thought I was in great shape! Clearly I was not! this was my 3rd fourteener. The hardest climb I have ever done. Make sure you take two or three days for this hike.
Hi Jeff, you were in shape or you would not have made it. We're not the same person every day. I've done Whitney 6 times including a one day RT and it never got easier. My friend who was on his 3rd time up the mountain, physically fit, turned back when he got short of breath.
Going next week, got permit for two and not sure if I want to find a partner, maybe release one permit. Hope I can make it to top. If not, will be back September
Hi there! At the time I wouldn't say we were in amazing shape at all, and hadn't really been hiking in over a year which is why I think it took us much longer than most to complete the hike (18 hours). But I was really determined to do it for my birthday so I would say its a huge mental challenge too. You need to really commit. I would definitely recommend training by doing some longer trails leading up to Mt Whitney though as its a really tough hike. As for getting lost, no problems in the day, however we walked a good 4 hours at least in the dark. Be sure to bring a flashlight incase you walk back in the dark too. It wasn't too difficult but I would recommend trying to get back down from the switchbacks before the sun sets.
Wow, that's amazing you've done it many times!! I would consider doing it again because its so beautiful and just another world up there. Does the Mountaineers Route require much climbing? I have heard its quicker but just wasn't sure we would have the technical skills.
@@jasonkringstein2179 Id prefer mountaineer's in 2 days, especially winter, as there is no E ledges climbing, as bushes are all covered in snow, so you can go over top of them. Then setup camp at the Couloir below the Mountaineer's route. Then get up early, lay protection and summit. Then clean up on the way back down.
Congratulations!!! I know its so hard right??! You think getting past those switchbacks is bad until you realize at the summit you have a long walk back to the trail head lol.
Took 19 hours overall my first time. Took a nap at top of switchbacks and also at the top of summit. What a great feeling to complete it. We started at midnight and the timing worked out. Congrats on completion.
one of the best and real videos ive seen on this climb.... thank you for making it and the time stamps!!!
Thank you so much for the compliment :) Making youtube videos was still pretty new to us back the LOL
By far the hardest hike I have EVER DONE! Best feeling making it to the summit and witnessing that amazing view!
Yes! I would do it again though :)
@@RoadTripUSA Let's do it!
Thanks for sharing! It took me 18 hours last saturday too... the 99 switchback was painful and the last 1.9 miles hike to the summit felt like eternity. Congrats!!
Congrats to you too! Its such an incredible feeling when you get back down and know you just made the summit and back in one day right?? Definitely requires a persistent mindset. Yeah those last two miles might have been the worst even though not the hardest. But such unusual landscape and scenery on the back side. Was really cool to see!
Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to share.
Congratulations! I did that hike in 1990 at the age of 35. I started at Whitney Portal about 4 a.m. and made it to the top at 11am. Took a nap in the camp and made it down in time for dinner with my wife and son. The hardest day of my life without a doubt.
Wow that's a good effort! You made it up in 6 hours!!! Definitely a challenge, especially mentally when you've got to stop remembering how long the walk back is goin to be on the way up lol
@@RoadTripUSA Good point. The physical effort is only part of the narrative. You have to push back on those negative thoughts that creep into your mind telling you to turn around. Reaching the top and viewing the scenery is a true reward but pushing yourself to get there and back is the best rush of all.
Thanks for sharing such an amazing experience! Congratulations as well for sticking to it and pushing through!
It was our pleasure! We enjoy making these video's :) We did contemplate turning around (well one of us did anyway lol) but so glad we kept going. Even if it meant walking back in the dark for hours. Just thankful we had a warm van to go back to instead of freezing our butts off in a tent!!!
I'm late to the party, as usual, but just wanted to say; great job getting that done, and thank you for showing how rough it was! You guys were fit and super tough to push yourselves through that. Much lighter gear load, and light footwear like VivoBareFoot Primus Trail FG's would have made all the difference in the world.👊
Wow! Congrats on that. Awesome video and footage again. At one point I thought y'all would really give up, but you stuck with it! I envy you. I don't think I could do that now at my age. Looks like it would need to be broken down into a few days!! Lol.
But the reward was worth it, huh?! You now have it down in the books! Well done!👍👍
Lol it was definitely a tough one! I don't think we realized how hard it was actually going to be, and hadn't hiked in months leading up to this haha. We kept going because I would never be able to forgive myself if we quit... and we were definitely the last ones back by a few extra hours. I think over two days would be a better option! Thanks for commenting :)
Heading to mount Whitney this summer! Thank you for all the information and insight!
Awesome! Would love to be back in the Sierra's. We never mentioned this in the video but there is a cafe at the base serving pancakes bigger than the size of your head! They are amazing after an 18 hour hike lol. Good luck!
Very good video coverage. I wonder if you didn't take into consideration the altitude being your deficit. Clearly you are in great shape however, altitude will increase difficulty. Over night is the key, I hiked to the first plateau which is approx. 8 miles of switchbacks. My group did not go to the top, stayed overnight then came back down. Once we got to the rocks it was hard to find the path leading to top, of course this was late 70's. Im sure much has changed since then. Cudos!! Congrats!! You did it. Good job!!
Thank you :) I would say we could have been in better shape as we hadn't hiked in months previous to Mt Whitney due to other commitments but I'm sure the altitude had something to do with it too. I think a lot of other things come into play as well such as whether you got a good nights rest beforehand and whether you are mentally prepared. Yes, I think as an overnight it would be easier but also I'm not sure if I could carry such a heavy load up there. Congrats to you too! Still great even if you didn't make it to the top. It's just so beautiful and quiet up there!!
As tough as this hike is uphill from where you started, my quads were aching thinking about your return.
Yep, I would have to say coming back down was worse. I've always been okay with uphill but steep downhill hike's are always a killer on my legs! We did an overnight hike to a volcano once in Indonesia and I have no idea what happened to my legs but on the descent they went all wobbly, like I couldn't even take two steps without them collapsing underneath me. I was crying and didn't think I would make it out. Has never happened again though. Weird!!
Hiking poles have been my savior. Was in your state during a descent to Phantom Ranch. No legs left and 1.5 miles to go.
There was a guy in his 70s that camped next to us that round tripped it in 12 hours from the portal. Took us 18 hours also.
In his 70's?? Wow that's a pretty good effort! I would love to attempt it again and aim for 15 hours... even though I know we said the day after we'd never do it again as a day hike but all the bad stuff has been erased from our minds now lol
My wife and I, Kiwi, 60 yrs of age took 19 hrs a month ago...congrats on your effort.
Amazing! Congratulations to you guys too :) It's such an unforgettable experience!!! I feel like conquering this hike proves how strong you are mentally as well as physically. If you haven't been to Idaho before and you like to hike, look up the Sawtooth Mountain range. Fun trails out there too!
You One shot that mountain, that’s pretty cool. You guys must be fit to do that.
Not as fit as everyone else was that did it in 15 hours but this was our first hike after going back to Oz for 4 months so we were a little slow.
If you ever come visit we might have to take you on one of our crazy hiking escapades lol
Road Trip USA I’ll see how my flybuys are going at the end of the year and I got a new discount package my work gave me. I’ll see if I can get some cash together
@@canijustplease Sounds good! What kind of discount package?
Road Trip USA i get discounts on random stuff like airfares and hotels, care hire etc but it doesn’t work with flybuys so have to see what works out better
Great vid. Surprised you guys don’t have more subs. Keep it up.
Thank you :) We should spend more time on youtube but the website takes up most of our time!
You need spring loaded poles (as in two) for the hike back. It will save your knees.
Do you have a recommended model?
great job guys
Thank you!! :)
Entertained the thought of doing it in one day for a couple of minutes. Then reality set in and decided on three days. Still I got quite ill from the altitude. I did make it to the top but I probably wouldn't do it again.
Congrats on making it up there! Isn't it incredible?! I think a lot of people say they would never do it again... I think I would do it again, but I'm sure we would regret it halfway lol
Your Channel is amazing, keep up the great work!!
Thanks so much for taking the time to let us know :) Happy you enjoyed!
On a one day pass. Go to Mt Whitney Ranger Station (640 S Main St, Lone Pine. 760-876-6200). They have unlimited one day passes. Get your NEXT DAY pass and get some early sleep. Be at the trail start around 11:00 PM, and by the time you get to the park boundaries it will be @ midnight. Your day pass has started and and it's valid. If you time it right, you can be at the top at sunrise. And be back before night, good luck.
Im going on Saturday!!
Awesome! Would love for you to come back and leave a comment to let us know how you go and if you make it to the top :)
Get a next day pass at Lone Pine ranger station. (One Day pass is unlimited) Start your hike at 10 pm and by midnight you will be at the park boundaries (legal day hike). Take your time. And you will be back before dark.
Will keep it in mind in case there is a next time :)
Great vid! I am crossing my fingers to get permit for this year :)
Most challenging hike ever but all worth it! Fingers crossed you get a permit but if not you can still try for a walk up permit. That's how we got ours and they seemed to have quite a few for that following day.
The #1 thing I'd tell people is to NOT underestimate the difficulty of the hike.
Yes, its definitely not something to take lightly.
Is there any water on the trail?
Water is available at the trail head and there are lakes and streams on the way up until you get to Trail Camp, but once you hit the switchbacks there is nothing.
Sometimes you have snow. Using the lake water, you will need to use a filter.
Awesome
Thank you!
It took us almost 19 hours I thought I was in great shape! Clearly I was not! this was my 3rd fourteener. The hardest climb I have ever done. Make sure you take two or three days for this hike.
Hi Jeff, you were in shape or you would not have made it. We're not the same person every day. I've done Whitney 6 times including a one day RT and it never got easier. My friend who was on his 3rd time up the mountain, physically fit, turned back when he got short of breath.
Going next week, got permit for two and not sure if I want to find a partner, maybe release one permit. Hope I can make it to top. If not, will be back September
What kind of shape are you in? Trying to figure out how much time i should budget for the climb. Also, is it hard to not get lost?
Hi there! At the time I wouldn't say we were in amazing shape at all, and hadn't really been hiking in over a year which is why I think it took us much longer than most to complete the hike (18 hours). But I was really determined to do it for my birthday so I would say its a huge mental challenge too. You need to really commit. I would definitely recommend training by doing some longer trails leading up to Mt Whitney though as its a really tough hike. As for getting lost, no problems in the day, however we walked a good 4 hours at least in the dark. Be sure to bring a flashlight incase you walk back in the dark too. It wasn't too difficult but I would recommend trying to get back down from the switchbacks before the sun sets.
Great work! That is a helluva day hike. I have done many times with my dog too! Mountaineer's route is much faster.
Wow, that's amazing you've done it many times!! I would consider doing it again because its so beautiful and just another world up there. Does the Mountaineers Route require much climbing? I have heard its quicker but just wasn't sure we would have the technical skills.
did the mountaineers route in 2 days last year. What is harder? standard in one day or mountaineers route in 2 days?
@@jasonkringstein2179 Id prefer mountaineer's in 2 days, especially winter, as there is no E ledges climbing, as bushes are all covered in snow, so you can go over top of them. Then setup camp at the Couloir below the Mountaineer's route. Then get up early, lay protection and summit. Then clean up on the way back down.
@@MyWillbot Id be doing it in the summer. How cold was it for you up top?
@Jason Kringstein TBH I can’t remember. Been a long while since I did it. Like a decade. Good thing about mountains. They don’t change.
When did you hike this? Just got my permits today.
Sorry for the late reply!!!! We did this in mid October.
I once saw two skeletons at the top that made it in 4 hours. Actually ultramarathon runners with 3-4% body fat. Yep, they looked like cadavers.
Took us 17 hours! Hardest thing ive ever done
Congratulations!!! I know its so hard right??! You think getting past those switchbacks is bad until you realize at the summit you have a long walk back to the trail head lol.
With a girlfriend like that you HAVE to camp one night on the trail and bang it out proper.