I've done Mt. Whitney many, many times over the last 3 or so decades. The advice here is extraordinarily helpful, either for a first-timer or someone like me, who can always use friendly reminders. Well done!
For inexperienced hikers the best time to hike Whitney is late summer/early fall after the snow has melted, and the weather is more stable - ideally September. Anyone in reasonable fitness can day-hike it with some physical preparation - preferably similar hikes at high altitude. On a good day you don't need all that equipment and clothing - just some long pants and a waterproof windbreaker jacket. Take lots of food and a water filter and you're set. Leave the trailhead at 4:00 am and be back at sun-down around 8pm. 16 hrs. is a decent average round-trip time. You reach the peak at 12:30 - 1 pm, just before the afternoon thunderstorms roll in, though they are not on a schedule and can appear anytime. Have lots of electrolytes, and don't chug your Gatorade - it will make you sick.
I did the hike in one day in early August circa 1978 when I was in my early thirties. I was a regular runner, and, back then, as I recall, I also did a little training going up and down flights of stairs (I'm a flatlander from Louisiana). I arrived in Lone Pine the morning before the hike to pick up a permit at the ranger station. The weather was beautiful. A few sections of the trail still had snow, but nothing along the trail was difficult to traverse. It just took some stamina. By late afternoon, I was back in Lone Pine eating steak at a cafe and ready to hit the sack in my motel room.
Climbing Mt Whitney with my friend when we were in HS is a cherished memory. We planned all our trips well ahead of time, mostly for food and equipment lists, not itinerary. My dad dropped us off and we spent the first night at Whitney Portal, the trail head. The next night we stayed at Mirror Lake, a few miles up the trail. After a couple days at Mirror Lake, we packed our day bags and headed up to the summit. It was indescribably beautiful. We ascended the 97 switchbacks, and the view from the saddle was breathtaking. We looked across the Owens Valley to the White Mountains, and in the other direction are the Sierras, with row upon row of ranges, and dotted with lakes that look like blue ink. The sky was deep blue, due to the altitude. The weather was mild, maybe low 70's, but the sunlight was intense. We hiked to the peak and stayed too long. We did not get back to our camp at Mirror Lake until 1 AM. Good thing we had flashlights. This was in 1970, and was a great adventure. If you can do it, I highly recommend it. There is something to seeing sights that can only be reached by extreme effort that is deeply satisfying.
Better to go back together and try another time, than to keep going and stay on the mountain forever. Words to live by. This video should be required viewing for anyone going there and has value that goes with many outdoor activities.
Did this hike in August 2005 at age 57 with my wife at age 51. Did it as a day hike starting at 3:30 AM from Whitney Portal, and returning at 7:30 PM after spending an hour at the summit. Our conditioning consisted of mostly high elevation hikes of approximately 8 to 10 miles per hike. No snow to contend with, and trail was well marked. Made sure we had plenty of water (3 liter Camelback, along with 3-4 extra bottles of water for me), my wife had 1.5 liter Camelback. We returned with almost half our water remaining. Sunscreen and lip balm is essential. Food was our regular sandwiches, veggies and cookies along with trail mix. No potty issues, no wag bags needed, and no altitude sickness. Most of this video is for travel in snow conditions, with a plan to stay overnight. Most of this gear is not needed for a long day hike with no snow. Yes we were very tired. Yes we were glad we did it. A day hike is very doable if you are in good shape, have done some hiking at elevation or otherwise trained for constant uphill hiking at elevation. Sunrise on the trail should not be missed; spectacular!
Great advice for people looking to summit in a day! Thanks for your comment :) Thomas actually attempted to summit in a single day, but the person he went with wasn't able to keep going. We ended up spreading it out over a few nights because of the added difficulty of filming, but of course that adds it's own challenges like needing more food and gear. Either way, it's a beautiful place! Cheers :) -Andrew
Nice video. My brother and I were on the summit just over a month ago. Horseshoe Meadows to the summit and out Portal. Great weather and no major problems. 👍
Great video. Love the part about wag bags. I am local to the area, and we get really tired of people coming up from LA or wherever and $hiting all over everything. These guys have a positive, respectful frame of mind, and are the type of visitors we enjoy. Keep up the great work bros!!😁👍🏽💪🏽🤘🏽
Each time Ive done it I get the 1 day pass and get into the permit zone at midnight - summit around dawn and hike down. This video is more geared to prep for transecting the equator or something. If youre a decent hiker and on the Whitney Trail, its just a long hike.
Great, concise video. One thing that I'm sure has been mentioned in the comments but was not mentioned [or filmed] in the video is that for overnight trips you are required to carry your food in a bear-proof canister such as a Garcia Bear Canister, Bear Vault, Counter Assault, or the fancy Bearikade. They can be rented from the outdoor shop in town for not very much. They do ask you when you pick up your permit and if a ranger finds you overnighting without one you will be asked to leave and, likely, cited.
You guys should do more videos like this. Talking through the prep and the landmarks would be really helpful for people that want to reproduce your hikes. Great info.
Did it back in 1972. No fancy nothing. Had cheap Kmart work boots on a backpack, tent and gear. Went up and over into kings canyon. No idea what I was doing.I keep going for six months. Grand Canyon twice in 3 days .hit one national park after the next what a summer. Walked so much wore hole threw boots .stuffed it with cardboard till I got home.a priceless memory.
I'm planning on hiking Mt.Whitney this year, this is a very good and informative video. I've also spoke to locals who have hiked it and gave me some very useful information. I'm an avid hiker and camper and I don't want to be on an episode of 'I shouldn't be alive'.
ha! this is great reference for me because going on the dates of your permit, I'm only a day later this year so weather and conditions might be as similar as possible!
We've gone up 4 times in the last 12 years. I never got a permit ahead of time. If you go to the station Monday through mid-week there are usually a half dozen or more cancellations that are made available. Only once did we need to wait a day to get a permit.
This is useful. I'm not sure if I'll do Mt Whitney though... I'm not one to seek heights. But you've given me a lot to think about with this. especially with the training for a incline intensive trip which is something I've been struggling with. Especially since I'm out of shape, and been trying to get back into shape.
Summited Whitney the first week of April 2016 by the Mountaineers Route. Fun climb! Training was a winter of hiking and ice climbing in the White Mountains of NH.
So it looks like I've added Whitney to my bucket list. I am trying to get used to elevation at Yosemite by hiking all the strenuous stuff. I can do 18-20 miles in a day now. Excellent video. Lots of good info. Thanks so much for sharing!
We got our permit for a Oct. 10, 2000 summit. Acclimated for 3 days prior with increased elevations each day. We were in great shape and it paid off big time. Portal to summit in13 hours
Thanks for this video! Just really started getting into hiking again and now especially backpacking. Preparing to do Mt. Whitney next summer 2023 in June with my friend!! Getting ready for that snowy trail in June, gotta get those microspikes ready. Already getting stuff ready and preparing for that. Acclimating to 8,000 for the first night, then heading up to trail camp and spending a night. Then summiting the next day and coming back down to stay another night at trail camp! Then go all the way back down. Pretty excited and decided to make sure to get used to the altitude by staying the 3 nights instead of doing it in one day. Why not enjoy the time you're there! This video definitely helped and I've got a lot of planning done. I'll be 17 doing it really excited even though its still more than a year away.
You can also make it more enjoyable (if you have the time) by spending the first night at Outpost camp. It's a great area with abundant water sources, a waterfall at night for great white noise, and at 10,400 feet it allows you to acclimate a bit further before going up to Trail Camp at 12,000. Trail Camp is like camping on the moon, no shade, and if its windy it'll be a lot worse up there. Good luck on your hike, hopefully you have put in for the Whitney lottery because this month is going to fly by.
2 of us went in Oct. 1996. No permit. We just took off and spent the night in my truck. Had the correct gear and food. Freezing cold. Got to Trail Camp, tent went up. Then.......a huge snow storm came. Had to retreat. Beautiful area. Never went back.
Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States and the Sierra Nevada, with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m). It is located in East-Central California, on the boundary between California's Inyo and Tulare counties, 84.6 miles (136.2 km) west-northwest of the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. The west slope of the mountain is in Sequoia National Park and the summit is the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail which runs 211.9 mi (341.0 km) from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. The east slope is in the Inyo National Forest in Inyo County.
What a great video! Thank tyou for this; I attempted it back August 14 2016 and got only as far as Outpost camp, spended the night with 32 degree and slight headache and had to go down because mountain sickness next day as I was recommended to not keep going up from more experience hikers; my ascend took almost 8 hours for those 3+ miles while the GPS said I hiked about 7 miles; I was going up 20 to 50 steps before stopping to catch m y breath since I was and are still so out of shape; I was being passed along the way by everyone so I was going really really slow and stopping for the scenery a lot too, not only ascending but also taking pics and videos; so that is the explanation why so long to ascend so little and then the descend was about 3 hours down from Outpost camp to Portal, leaving outpost around noon reaching Portal around 3.00pm (and having one of those gigantic burgers there yes! shame on me, lol) I carried 26 pounds total on way up, left portal little after 1.00pm and got to camp around 8.00pm, really tired, I was then, just like now still 70 pounds overweight and did not hidrated as I should have, also the acclimatization for me was only one night at the portal, I want to do it again, only right now I have a broken ACL which I am going for surgery to repair soon. I wonder how long before I can attempt it again; I am not going to lose all that weight before it happens so I would go slowly again and try to be better acclimatized; this time I would take oxigen cans with me and drink water more often and if I can do and prepare some cardio rutines months before I will do so; I think the phisiotheraphy after the surgery I can set myself with exercises rutines better this time which may help my general shape but Whitney is in my sights still, shaped or not; Last time I had a 3 days permit and that was not enough. Next time I want to summit it. I would always try to do it mid August, I think those are the best days, if not this year, then the next and so forth.
I hiked up and down Whitney several times in my 20's in a day. Nothing more than slight headache, course I was still in Marine Corps, best shape of my life. 40 years later might do it again. Apparently I was very lucky, no preparation, permits, lottery, and the weather was excellent. This time I would slow way down ( naturally) spend several days. I have got most of my light weight equipment and an going to start ordering light HAM Radio for Morse code. At dawn, should be able to get into Asia as long as I don't get electrocuted. I am thinking maybe bamboo poles for hiking, light weight hopefully durable enough to last a few days and double as an antenna mast. Just downloaded Mt Whitney app appears to be excellent for offline use. Would consider mountaineering route if with group, definitely not solo for me.
Hulda Crooks hiked Whitney 23 times. She hiked it for the first time at 66 years old and for the last time at 91. She holds the record as the oldest person to hike Whitney. When I learned this I felt that I could hike Whitney. After this video, im now terrified, lol. Just joking, great video, helpful info.
Highly recommend "Mediocre Amateur" a smaller vlog hiking channel. Absolute beasts summited in a day and regularly run routes that are more than a marathon.
Thanks for emphasizing LNT principles and the wag bag. Other outdoor channels don't do it enough. As more people are inspired to go visit the great outdoors because of youtube, they should also learn to be good stewards of the land so that there isn't a Tragedy of the Commons.
I tried to summit on Halloween but didn't make it. I started at 12:30am Way too early and I shouldve packed a puffy jacket in my bag because I sweat underneath all of my layers and came close to hypothermia. I did the first 3 miles in 40 min. If I went back I would've started around 3/3:30. For people in decent shape that's a good starting time unless youre going to walk at 1 mile per hour. Also I underestimated the altitude on this hike. I was taking Diamox in preparation and still got a massive headache. I usually dont get altitude sickness but next time I will be camping at the trail head to acclimate.
Don't show up to this hike out of shape. Plan on taking at least 16 hours to complete this. Going down is very hard on the legs and feet because it isn't a dirt path until the last 3 miles. Most people start at 230am to 3am. Plan on finishing after sunset and around 9pm. Bring ibuprofen to combat altitude sickness. I also advise you take acclimation breaks at Mirror Lake, Trail Camp, during the 99 switchbacks, Trail Crest and about a mile before the summit. This hike can be VERY windy the last 2 miles after you reach Trail Crest (40mph and higher winds) and the drop off is 2000ft to your death. Best of all bring layers and change accordingly at each milestone of the hike. Expect to have a very hard time breathing because the air is so thin. Lots of people end up having to bail at the 99 switchbacks and Trail Crest because the body can't handle it anymore. No shame in that, just expect that it could be you
I also live in Columbus Ohio and don't have access to mountains nearby to train, is the gym the best way to get in shape to climb a mountain such as Whitney, or Andrew did you rely on other hikes to get you in shape to climb?
Hiking other mountains is the best way to train for hiking Whitney. You can't know how your body will react to altitude unless you subject yourself to high altitude under physical stress. Running and hiking are not the same activity. I could hike all day at altitude, but can't run for squat. Also, you need to condition your knees and joints for the trail. Hiking downhill stresses your knees in different ways and can be very painful and debilitating. It took me several years to condition my knees to the downhill trip.
#SLO I did this hiking trail in one day like three times or so 40 years ago. Did not need permits, bear canisters, poop bags etc. Just did it. Course I was pretty healthy in the Marine Corps and everything. I'm wondering if some of the nearby peaks might not be good alternative with less red tape and congestion? Safety is number one, established trail. I would not do Mt. Whitney Mountaineer Route solo don't have the skill set. If get caught in bad situation can be harder going back down than up.
Mount Russell is a good alternative to Whitney. Also Mnt. Langley, but Langley is not as interesting. I solo'ed the Mountaineer's route when I was 49 with no real skills. It was not a wise idea, but it wasn't terribly difficult. You have to keep a sharp eye out to locate the trail - lots of markers. There are only 2 challenging parts - the Ebersbacher Ledges at the beginning, and the final 300 ft. The scramble above Iceberg Lake is exhausting, but not difficult. Unless you really enjoy struggling and navigating through the snow, don't try it until late Sept. when the snow is mostly gone. The Mountaineers Route is less than half the distance of the Main trail, but it took me just as long (9 1/2 hrs up only). Going down is only difficult above Iceberg Lake - the last 2000ft. I descended the main trail, which is no longer allowed. I had a permit for the main trail and ascended via Mountaineers Rt when a permit wasn't required. I was crazy and ballsy to hike alone, but I was used to hiking alone, and wouldn't have been able to find anyone to go with me. Definitely go with a partner.
Hi! I am wondering for a day hike for Mt. Whitney at the end of July and wondering if I can use a 22 L Backpack. I think the 45 L backpack is a bit much and not planning to camp with sleeping materials. Do you still recommend the 45 L backpack? or even then 65 L Backpack? Thanks!
Consider Diamox anti-altitude sickness medication. You take this 24 hours before ascent. Ask you Doc for a prescription. It is dirt cheap. 1st camp should be below 9000 feet to acclimate.
I have DJI Mavik Pro, and im in to making videos from my hiking or backpacking trips, so do u think is it worth bring it for this hike? and 2nd question, when u reached Mt. Whitney's peak, wut time was it? and did u decent immediately the same day(if u did then how long did it take to decent from peak to ur car?), or stayed in one of the lower campground and then came down? thanks for this great videos, i live in CA and because of you guys i started doing lots of hike and im doing the six pack peak and i just hiked Mt. Baldy last week. keep it up
I just did a research and I guess u r not allowed to fly in most of the notional parks, but some national forest you are allowed, its best to ask them before hand. this one is for mt whitney www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/topics/49837/Re:__Drone_flying_in_the_Whitn
I do a lot of hiking here in SoCal. I always tell friends who decide to tag along to time their meals because I don’t want to stop for them to 💩 on the mountain. I want empty intestines the second we hit the trails.
Depends on the conditions - I would browse forums and contact the ranger station to ask about this if you're planning on hiking. We did use microspikes, but we didn't have a ton of snow to deal with either.
Take a few trips to a state that has mountains. If you are serious enough to travel to California to hike a mountain, you can take a trip to a closer state with mountains. You are next door to Colorado, one of the most mountainous states in the country, and it has several 14'ers.
H.Y.O.H. good for you. In one day, who would've thought it possible? 😂 100 one-day permits issued 7 days a week in season, and a lottery system to get them. How many have hiked Whitney in a day? 60 camp permits per day. A night under the stars in the Sierra's is not without its values. Either way is a worthy accomplishment. Good for you on hiking your own hike and bagging it in a day.
I did it on 8/13/1999 still have the permit at 51 yrs. We were lucky they closed the 97 switchbacks for 2 hrs. The day before for maintenance. I would highly recommend “ how to climb Mt. Whitney in one day for middle aged, weekend and amateur day hikers” by Sharon Baker-Salony. I followed her plan which is do not focus on Mt. Whitney but just on achieving set goals: Trail head to John Muir wilderness, to Lone Pine lake, to Bighorn park, Mirror lake, trail camp, trail crest and on to summit. The best part is trail crest when you can look west and east of the Sierra crest! The book also has some great photos. The wildness was the hike back to the car with a rapist/maybe killer on the trail. A tale to tell wished I was carry .@@jamesalvernaz4913
Thanks for convincing me to not do what I wasn't planning to do in the first place. I need to know how many (linear) miles, how many (vertical) feet. Nah, hiking ain't for me. There's a 107 mile all-day day-ride I do from Government Camp to PDX OR I call it "Around Mt Hood" It's pretty good, maybe 1500 feet of climbing and 6000 feet downhill Sure, it will be the first upload I do for my soon-to-open new YooToob channel I claim expertise, in that I've done that ride... I'm going to estimate about 250 times Really. Best stretch was August 2015 when I did it 16 times in 31 days... all the odd number dates That was also my best total miles for a month: 2055 miles
Its way easier to pack light and do it in one day. Do it in august and you wont need much more than a wind breaker, some snacks and a gatorade. doing it in 4 days is to long.
Haha, when people leave them behind it's usually hidden out of sight. Still unfortunate, but it wasn't so out there that it detracted from the experience too much.
@@AdventureArchives I've been up several times, and I have a particular place at Trail Camp where I go to poop. I've seen bags left there. Its lame and pathetic. What is equally bad is when people leave empty plastic water bottles on the trail. Like they have the strength to hike the bottle up when its full, but its too heavy to take down when its empty?
The complaining about wag bags has become the #1 trend in recent years, especially in the high population (and toxic) Facebook groups. If someone leaves a wag bag sitting around, I'd rather see that than someone just deciding to go defecate on the ground somewhere. At least the bag can be retrieved (and it is, by rangers). Far too often now people see a bag, stop to take a photo of it and race home to post it on social media because people ain't happy unless they're complaining.
Your making people to worried ... just bring water and be prepared to stair up and down for hours over 10 hours. Eat enough food pack no more than 25 lbs
Successfully summited Mt. Whitney 2 weeks ago thanks to this video.
Can't believe we never replied to this, but congratulations and we're really glad our video helped!
Nice!
I've done Mt. Whitney many, many times over the last 3 or so decades. The advice here is extraordinarily helpful, either for a first-timer or someone like me, who can always use friendly reminders. Well done!
Now that’s a good review of this video!
For inexperienced hikers the best time to hike Whitney is late summer/early fall after the snow has melted, and the weather is more stable - ideally September. Anyone in reasonable fitness can day-hike it with some physical preparation - preferably similar hikes at high altitude. On a good day you don't need all that equipment and clothing - just some long pants and a waterproof windbreaker jacket. Take lots of food and a water filter and you're set. Leave the trailhead at 4:00 am and be back at sun-down around 8pm. 16 hrs. is a decent average round-trip time. You reach the peak at 12:30 - 1 pm, just before the afternoon thunderstorms roll in, though they are not on a schedule and can appear anytime. Have lots of electrolytes, and don't chug your Gatorade - it will make you sick.
Great Info, Thanks!
I did the hike in one day in early August circa 1978 when I was in my early thirties. I was a regular runner, and, back then, as I recall, I also did a little training going up and down flights of stairs (I'm a flatlander from Louisiana). I arrived in Lone Pine the morning before the hike to pick up a permit at the ranger station. The weather was beautiful. A few sections of the trail still had snow, but nothing along the trail was difficult to traverse. It just took some stamina. By late afternoon, I was back in Lone Pine eating steak at a cafe and ready to hit the sack in my motel room.
Climbing Mt Whitney with my friend when we were in HS is a cherished memory. We planned all our trips well ahead of time, mostly for food and equipment lists, not itinerary. My dad dropped us off and we spent the first night at Whitney Portal, the trail head. The next night we stayed at Mirror Lake, a few miles up the trail. After a couple days at Mirror Lake, we packed our day bags and headed up to the summit. It was indescribably beautiful. We ascended the 97 switchbacks, and the view from the saddle was breathtaking. We looked across the Owens Valley to the White Mountains, and in the other direction are the Sierras, with row upon row of ranges, and dotted with lakes that look like blue ink. The sky was deep blue, due to the altitude. The weather was mild, maybe low 70's, but the sunlight was intense. We hiked to the peak and stayed too long. We did not get back to our camp at Mirror Lake until 1 AM. Good thing we had flashlights. This was in 1970, and was a great adventure. If you can do it, I highly recommend it. There is something to seeing sights that can only be reached by extreme effort that is deeply satisfying.
Better to go back together and try another time, than to keep going and stay on the mountain forever. Words to live by.
This video should be required viewing for anyone going there and has value that goes with many outdoor activities.
Did this hike in August 2005 at age 57 with my wife at age 51. Did it as a day hike starting at 3:30 AM from Whitney Portal, and returning at 7:30 PM after spending an hour at the summit. Our conditioning consisted of mostly high elevation hikes of approximately 8 to 10 miles per hike. No snow to contend with, and trail was well marked. Made sure we had plenty of water (3 liter Camelback, along with 3-4 extra bottles of water for me), my wife had 1.5 liter Camelback. We returned with almost half our water remaining. Sunscreen and lip balm is essential. Food was our regular sandwiches, veggies and cookies along with trail mix. No potty issues, no wag bags needed, and no altitude sickness. Most of this video is for travel in snow conditions, with a plan to stay overnight. Most of this gear is not needed for a long day hike with no snow. Yes we were very tired. Yes we were glad we did it. A day hike is very doable if you are in good shape, have done some hiking at elevation or otherwise trained for constant uphill hiking at elevation. Sunrise on the trail should not be missed; spectacular!
Great advice for people looking to summit in a day! Thanks for your comment :) Thomas actually attempted to summit in a single day, but the person he went with wasn't able to keep going. We ended up spreading it out over a few nights because of the added difficulty of filming, but of course that adds it's own challenges like needing more food and gear. Either way, it's a beautiful place! Cheers :) -Andrew
what time were you guys at the top with 3:30 am start?
@@TrekkingPals We summited about 12:30 pm; stayed about an hour before returning. Got back to Whitney Portal around 7:30 pm.
@@sherrypalmer1283 Thank you!
Nice video. My brother and I were on the summit just over a month ago. Horseshoe Meadows to the summit and out Portal. Great weather and no major problems. 👍
Great video. Love the part about wag bags. I am local to the area, and we get really tired of people coming up from LA or wherever and $hiting all over everything. These guys have a positive, respectful frame of mind, and are the type of visitors we enjoy. Keep up the great work bros!!😁👍🏽💪🏽🤘🏽
Wow! Good to know. I hope it isn’t gross on the trail from those who don’t use the wag bags.
@@immnotaboutthatlife2086 Unfortunately sometimes it gets a little $hitty lol. Be safe out there, and watch your step 💩😅.
i did whitney in 1 day, nothing like 20hrs on the mountain!
Each time Ive done it I get the 1 day pass and get into the permit zone at midnight - summit around dawn and hike down. This video is more geared to prep for transecting the equator or something. If youre a decent hiker and on the Whitney Trail, its just a long hike.
I used your video and others to help my group make it to the top for first time. Thanks for all the good info!
Great, concise video. One thing that I'm sure has been mentioned in the comments but was not mentioned [or filmed] in the video is that for overnight trips you are required to carry your food in a bear-proof canister such as a Garcia Bear Canister, Bear Vault, Counter Assault, or the fancy Bearikade. They can be rented from the outdoor shop in town for not very much. They do ask you when you pick up your permit and if a ranger finds you overnighting without one you will be asked to leave and, likely, cited.
You guys should do more videos like this. Talking through the prep and the landmarks would be really helpful for people that want to reproduce your hikes. Great info.
Thank you for all the info on the hike! I am waiting on the date for our hike! All of the content in this video will go a long way!
Did it back in 1972. No fancy nothing. Had cheap Kmart work boots on a backpack, tent and gear. Went up and over into kings canyon. No idea what I was doing.I keep going for six months. Grand Canyon twice in 3 days .hit one national park after the next what a summer. Walked so much wore hole threw boots .stuffed it with cardboard till I got home.a priceless memory.
I'm planning on hiking Mt.Whitney this year, this is a very good and informative video. I've also spoke to locals who have hiked it and gave me some very useful information. I'm an avid hiker and camper and I don't want to be on an episode of 'I shouldn't be alive'.
ha! this is great reference for me because going on the dates of your permit, I'm only a day later this year so weather and conditions might be as similar as possible!
Great video! Thanks for all the information!!
We've gone up 4 times in the last 12 years. I never got a permit ahead of time. If you go to the station Monday through mid-week there are usually a half dozen or more cancellations that are made available. Only once did we need to wait a day to get a permit.
This is useful. I'm not sure if I'll do Mt Whitney though... I'm not one to seek heights. But you've given me a lot to think about with this. especially with the training for a incline intensive trip which is something I've been struggling with. Especially since I'm out of shape, and been trying to get back into shape.
Summited Whitney the first week of April 2016 by the Mountaineers Route. Fun climb! Training was a winter of hiking and ice climbing in the White Mountains of NH.
Great info, guys. It'd be great to see more of these videos for other trips. Thanks!
We certainly will!
Fabulous information, did this in 1987 with a group of friends it was fantastic. Great video!
according to Thomas, the way he has been training for it, it should of been a day hike lol
So it looks like I've added Whitney to my bucket list. I am trying to get used to elevation at Yosemite by hiking all the strenuous stuff. I can do 18-20 miles in a day now.
Excellent video. Lots of good info. Thanks so much for sharing!
Yosemite is not sufficient elevation to train. Try San Gorgonio via the Vivian Creek trail.
Nice job Andrew & Thomas. Hope to see more videos like this. Lots of helpful info. 👍👍
We got our permit for a Oct. 10, 2000 summit. Acclimated for 3 days prior with increased elevations each day. We were in great shape and it paid off big time. Portal to summit in13 hours
Lol! Andrews training montage !
I liked that part too. lol. I'm still waiting on his weekly vlogs... hint hint Andrew.
Absolutely, and Andrew's always been my favorite! 😁
We need to get you guys set up with a nice Outdoor Vitals 60L pack!
We'd love to talk too!!
Really cool format to your video and a great way to deal with living in different cities. Well done!
Great video! Thomas has a topographical 3D Map. That's hardcore.
one of the most useful videos i've ever seen
Thanks so much! Glad you found it useful :)
Awesome video y'all! I'm planning on hiking Mt. Whitney so all this info helps! :)
Thanks for this video! Just really started getting into hiking again and now especially backpacking. Preparing to do Mt. Whitney next summer 2023 in June with my friend!! Getting ready for that snowy trail in June, gotta get those microspikes ready. Already getting stuff ready and preparing for that. Acclimating to 8,000 for the first night, then heading up to trail camp and spending a night. Then summiting the next day and coming back down to stay another night at trail camp! Then go all the way back down. Pretty excited and decided to make sure to get used to the altitude by staying the 3 nights instead of doing it in one day. Why not enjoy the time you're there! This video definitely helped and I've got a lot of planning done. I'll be 17 doing it really excited even though its still more than a year away.
You can also make it more enjoyable (if you have the time) by spending the first night at Outpost camp. It's a great area with abundant water sources, a waterfall at night for great white noise, and at 10,400 feet it allows you to acclimate a bit further before going up to Trail Camp at 12,000. Trail Camp is like camping on the moon, no shade, and if its windy it'll be a lot worse up there. Good luck on your hike, hopefully you have put in for the Whitney lottery because this month is going to fly by.
I would sure love to hike that for my 56 Bday next year. Planning...
2 of us went in Oct. 1996. No permit. We just took off and spent the night in my truck. Had the correct gear and food. Freezing cold. Got to Trail Camp, tent went up. Then.......a huge snow storm came. Had to retreat. Beautiful area. Never went back.
Loved this, great advice....your camera work is cinematic inspiration ❤️
I approve of the number of times poop was said in this video. XD
Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States and the Sierra Nevada, with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m). It is located in East-Central California, on the boundary between California's Inyo and Tulare counties, 84.6 miles (136.2 km) west-northwest of the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. The west slope of the mountain is in Sequoia National Park and the summit is the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail which runs 211.9 mi (341.0 km) from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. The east slope is in the Inyo National Forest in Inyo County.
Excellent information. Thank you!!
What a great video! Thank tyou for this; I attempted it back August 14 2016 and got only as far as Outpost camp, spended the night with 32 degree and slight headache and had to go down because mountain sickness next day as I was recommended to not keep going up from more experience hikers; my ascend took almost 8 hours for those 3+ miles while the GPS said I hiked about 7 miles; I was going up 20 to 50 steps before stopping to catch m y breath since I was and are still so out of shape; I was being passed along the way by everyone so I was going really really slow and stopping for the scenery a lot too, not only ascending but also taking pics and videos; so that is the explanation why so long to ascend so little and then the descend was about 3 hours down from Outpost camp to Portal, leaving outpost around noon reaching Portal around 3.00pm (and having one of those gigantic burgers there yes! shame on me, lol)
I carried 26 pounds total on way up, left portal little after 1.00pm and got to camp around 8.00pm, really tired, I was then, just like now still 70 pounds overweight and did not hidrated as I should have, also the acclimatization for me was only one night at the portal, I want to do it again, only right now I have a broken ACL which I am going for surgery to repair soon. I wonder how long before I can attempt it again; I am not going to lose all that weight before it happens so I would go slowly again and try to be better acclimatized; this time I would take oxigen cans with me and drink water more often and if I can do and prepare some cardio rutines months before I will do so; I think the phisiotheraphy after the surgery I can set myself with exercises rutines better this time which may help my general shape but Whitney is in my sights still, shaped or not; Last time I had a 3 days permit and that was not enough. Next time I want to summit it. I would always try to do it mid August, I think those are the best days, if not this year, then the next and so forth.
Other than getting your ACL fixed, the thing that will help the most is losing the extra 70 lbs. More than oxygen probably. Good luck.
I hiked up and down Whitney several times in my 20's in a day. Nothing more than slight headache, course I was still in Marine Corps, best shape of my life. 40 years later might do it again. Apparently I was very lucky, no preparation, permits, lottery, and the weather was excellent. This time I would slow way down ( naturally) spend several days. I have got most of my light weight equipment and an going to start ordering light HAM Radio for Morse code. At dawn, should be able to get into Asia as long as I don't get electrocuted. I am thinking maybe bamboo poles for hiking, light weight hopefully durable enough to last a few days and double as an antenna mast. Just downloaded Mt Whitney app appears to be excellent for offline use. Would consider mountaineering route if with group, definitely not solo for me.
Carbon poles might be more durable than bamboo. Sounds like an interesting project.
Thank you for all the advice
woah, loads of info. thanks for taking us on these journeys
Sooo... I'll probably never climb Mount Whitney, but this is a fun video to watch!
Hulda Crooks hiked Whitney 23 times. She hiked it for the first time at 66 years old and for the last time at 91. She holds the record as the oldest person to hike Whitney. When I learned this I felt that I could hike Whitney. After this video, im now terrified, lol. Just joking, great video, helpful info.
Great video! Is that a 3D topo map on the table? If so, where did you get it?
The WAG bag talk at the end ... so great!
thanks guys
Highly recommend "Mediocre Amateur" a smaller vlog hiking channel. Absolute beasts summited in a day and regularly run routes that are more than a marathon.
Great and useful video. Wish you could have provided links to things you talked about: map, etc. thanks
Awesome video! Thank you!
Thanks
Very hard for many to hike a 14'er without being acclimated to the altitude. As you said, know when to quit.
😅 i’m looking to do the john muir trail don’t know why i watched this but i did
Phenomenal video
Thanks for emphasizing LNT principles and the wag bag. Other outdoor channels don't do it enough. As more people are inspired to go visit the great outdoors because of youtube, they should also learn to be good stewards of the land so that there isn't a Tragedy of the Commons.
Absolutely! The freedom that the wilderness gives us also requires some responsibility and care for the environment in return :) Thanks for watching!
Cool thank you for the advice!
Great guide. What about cell reception in 2020?
Hmm, I'm not sure, but I don't remember having cell access when we did this, which I was in 2017. Thank you for watching!
They forgot to mention bear canister. Illegal to hike Mt. Whitney w/o keeping food in a bar canister
I tried to summit on Halloween but didn't make it. I started at 12:30am Way too early and I shouldve packed a puffy jacket in my bag because I sweat underneath all of my layers and came close to hypothermia. I did the first 3 miles in 40 min. If I went back I would've started around 3/3:30. For people in decent shape that's a good starting time unless youre going to walk at 1 mile per hour. Also I underestimated the altitude on this hike. I was taking Diamox in preparation and still got a massive headache. I usually dont get altitude sickness but next time I will be camping at the trail head to acclimate.
Hope you go back again to finally conquer it!
@@AdventureArchives Already have plans to go back in the warmer months lol
Thank you! ❤️
Bear canister are required?
Don't show up to this hike out of shape. Plan on taking at least 16 hours to complete this. Going down is very hard on the legs and feet because it isn't a dirt path until the last 3 miles. Most people start at 230am to 3am. Plan on finishing after sunset and around 9pm. Bring ibuprofen to combat altitude sickness. I also advise you take acclimation breaks at Mirror Lake, Trail Camp, during the 99 switchbacks, Trail Crest and about a mile before the summit. This hike can be VERY windy the last 2 miles after you reach Trail Crest (40mph and higher winds) and the drop off is 2000ft to your death. Best of all bring layers and change accordingly at each milestone of the hike. Expect to have a very hard time breathing because the air is so thin. Lots of people end up having to bail at the 99 switchbacks and Trail Crest because the body can't handle it anymore. No shame in that, just expect that it could be you
Okay, Great video!
what time of year did yall hike whitney
What's the best time to start the hike if it's a day hike?
Apologies if this is a repeated question but do you have a specific list of all the gear you used? (Brands, links etc?)
I also live in Columbus Ohio and don't have access to mountains nearby to train, is the gym the best way to get in shape to climb a mountain such as Whitney, or Andrew did you rely on other hikes to get you in shape to climb?
Hiking other mountains is the best way to train for hiking Whitney. You can't know how your body will react to altitude unless you subject yourself to high altitude under physical stress.
Running and hiking are not the same activity. I could hike all day at altitude, but can't run for squat. Also, you need to condition your knees and joints for the trail. Hiking downhill stresses your knees in different ways and can be very painful and debilitating. It took me several years to condition my knees to the downhill trip.
Are micro spikes or clamp ons an essential item for climbing Whitney?
#SLO I did this hiking trail in one day like three times or so 40 years ago. Did not need permits, bear canisters, poop bags etc. Just did it. Course I was pretty healthy in the Marine Corps and everything. I'm wondering if some of the nearby peaks might not be good alternative with less red tape and congestion? Safety is number one, established trail. I would not do Mt. Whitney Mountaineer Route solo don't have the skill set. If get
caught in bad situation can be harder going back down than up.
Mount Russell is a good alternative to Whitney. Also Mnt. Langley, but Langley is not as interesting. I solo'ed the Mountaineer's route when I was 49 with no real skills. It was not a wise idea, but it wasn't terribly difficult. You have to keep a sharp eye out to locate the trail - lots of markers. There are only 2 challenging parts - the Ebersbacher Ledges at the beginning, and the final 300 ft. The scramble above Iceberg Lake is exhausting, but not difficult. Unless you really enjoy struggling and navigating through the snow, don't try it until late Sept. when the snow is mostly gone. The Mountaineers Route is less than half the distance of the Main trail, but it took me just as long (9 1/2 hrs up only). Going down is only difficult above Iceberg Lake - the last 2000ft.
I descended the main trail, which is no longer allowed. I had a permit for the main trail and ascended via Mountaineers Rt when a permit wasn't required. I was crazy and ballsy to hike alone, but I was used to hiking alone, and wouldn't have been able to find anyone to go with me. Definitely go with a partner.
Do one of these for yosemite please
is it really that difficult? i mean, all the guides i watch say strenuous rating but i hike them easily..
Hi! I am wondering for a day hike for Mt. Whitney at the end of July and wondering if I can use a 22 L Backpack. I think the 45 L backpack is a bit much and not planning to camp with sleeping materials. Do you still recommend the 45 L backpack? or even then 65 L Backpack? Thanks!
I can hike all day but being from Hawaii it’s the altitude that kills me, you never deal with that here.
I can imagine! Although we were pretty surprised that the highest point in Hawaii was still over 13K feet high!
For me it would be really hard to get to high altitude, since i live in the netherlands😅
Consider Diamox anti-altitude sickness medication. You take this 24 hours before ascent. Ask you Doc for a prescription. It is dirt cheap. 1st camp should be below 9000 feet to acclimate.
Oh gosh I’m so worried about the thunder storms.
I have DJI Mavik Pro, and im in to making videos from my hiking or backpacking trips, so do u think is it worth bring it for this hike? and 2nd question, when u reached Mt. Whitney's peak, wut time was it? and did u decent immediately the same day(if u did then how long did it take to decent from peak to ur car?), or stayed in one of the lower campground and then came down? thanks for this great videos, i live in CA and because of you guys i started doing lots of hike and im doing the six pack peak and i just hiked Mt. Baldy last week. keep it up
if there is, i Have no knowledge of it. i need to do some research on it.
I just did a research and I guess u r not allowed to fly in most of the notional parks, but some national forest you are allowed, its best to ask them before hand. this one is for mt whitney www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/topics/49837/Re:__Drone_flying_in_the_Whitn
check this website it shows the air map where u allowed to fly. app.airmap.io/geo?34.144063,-118.590671,9.346143z
Where can I get a 3D map of the area?
I do a lot of hiking here in SoCal. I always tell friends who decide to tag along to time their meals because I don’t want to stop for them to 💩 on the mountain. I want empty intestines the second we hit the trails.
So no need for crampons?
Depends on the conditions - I would browse forums and contact the ranger station to ask about this if you're planning on hiking. We did use microspikes, but we didn't have a ton of snow to deal with either.
I recommend O2 in a can. If you feel light headed or short of breath, take a few hits.
xxuncexx BAHAHAHHA bro it’s 14,000 feet not 20,000 feet. If you need air for this peak you boulder be doing this peak
How do you train if you live in Kansas where there are no mountains? We have hills. Lol. But not the same.
Take a few trips to a state that has mountains. If you are serious enough to travel to California to hike a mountain, you can take a trip to a closer state with mountains. You are next door to Colorado, one of the most mountainous states in the country, and it has several 14'ers.
@@aliensoup2420 yeah I just got to find time and money to get there. Hopefully someday. And I have done pikes peak. It was great
@@Whickeyloo19 Longs Peak is really awesome. Shorter than Whitney, but harder and scarier.
I hiked Whitney twice straight off the couch...
this vid is not showing up in my sub feed... edit: it finally did 60min later
Shit I did it in one day. You should read hike Mt. Whitney in one day. We started at 6am and got back by 9pm.
H.Y.O.H. good for you. In one day, who would've thought it possible? 😂
100 one-day permits issued 7 days a week in season, and a lottery system to get them.
How many have hiked Whitney in a day?
60 camp permits per day.
A night under the stars in the Sierra's is not without its values.
Either way is a worthy accomplishment.
Good for you on hiking your own hike and bagging it in a day.
I did it on 8/13/1999 still have the permit at 51 yrs. We were lucky they closed the 97 switchbacks for 2 hrs. The day before for maintenance.
I would highly recommend “ how to climb Mt. Whitney in one day for middle aged, weekend and amateur day hikers” by Sharon Baker-Salony. I followed her plan which is do not focus on Mt. Whitney but just on achieving set goals:
Trail head to John Muir wilderness, to Lone Pine lake, to Bighorn park, Mirror lake, trail camp, trail crest and on to summit. The best part is trail crest when you can look west and east of the Sierra crest! The book also has some great photos. The wildness was the hike back to the car with a rapist/maybe killer on the trail. A tale to tell wished I was carry .@@jamesalvernaz4913
Hello~
How to charge the camera batteries outdoors
Thanks ：）
Thanks for convincing me to not do what I wasn't planning to do in the first place.
I need to know how many (linear) miles, how many (vertical) feet.
Nah, hiking ain't for me.
There's a 107 mile all-day day-ride I do from Government Camp to PDX OR
I call it "Around Mt Hood"
It's pretty good, maybe 1500 feet of climbing and 6000 feet downhill
Sure, it will be the first upload I do for my soon-to-open new YooToob channel
I claim expertise, in that I've done that ride... I'm going to estimate about 250 times
Really.
Best stretch was August 2015 when I did it 16 times in 31 days... all the odd number dates
That was also my best total miles for a month: 2055 miles
Bro faded😭😵💫
next trip please
We'll get right on it :)
What are you waiting ?
i can't wait . XD
**IF** that down sleeping bag gets wet, the game is over. While synthetic weighs more and is not as warm, it will dry. You pick!
Its way easier to pack light and do it in one day. Do it in august and you wont need much more than a wind breaker, some snacks and a gatorade. doing it in 4 days is to long.
I love this channel so much! I wanna make sweet sweet love to it!
You had me till “people leave their wag bag’. I’m out.
Haha, when people leave them behind it's usually hidden out of sight. Still unfortunate, but it wasn't so out there that it detracted from the experience too much.
@@AdventureArchives I've been up several times, and I have a particular place at Trail Camp where I go to poop. I've seen bags left there. Its lame and pathetic. What is equally bad is when people leave empty plastic water bottles on the trail. Like they have the strength to hike the bottle up when its full, but its too heavy to take down when its empty?
man, you guys could cut tons of weight off those packs. good info though. thanks
The complaining about wag bags has become the #1 trend in recent years, especially in the high population (and toxic) Facebook groups. If someone leaves a wag bag sitting around, I'd rather see that than someone just deciding to go defecate on the ground somewhere. At least the bag can be retrieved (and it is, by rangers). Far too often now people see a bag, stop to take a photo of it and race home to post it on social media because people ain't happy unless they're complaining.
Put your purse down before you hit the heavy bag
😂
Just kidding mate
God Bless
N u don’t need a map
Your making people to worried ... just bring water and be prepared to stair up and down for hours over 10 hours. Eat enough food pack no more than 25 lbs