Mount Whitney - Day and Section Hikes - page 26

6 Mount Whitney
S CENERY :
T RAIL CONDITION :
C HILDREN :
D IFFICULTY :
S OLITUDE :
D ISTANCE : 22 miles
H IKING TIME : 1-3 days
O UTSTANDING FEATURES : Mirror Lake, Trail Crest, Mount Whitney
Anna Mills, the first woman to climb Mount Whitney in 1878, wrote of her journey, “I
can candidly say that I have never seen, nor do I expect to see, a picture so varied, so
sublime, so awe-inspiring, as that seen from the summit of Mount Whitney.” ( Mount
Whitney Club Journal, 1902). Indeed, Mount Whitney is a perch that inspires the use
of superlatives. Less intimidating than most peaks, Mount Whitney welcomes hikers to
her gently sloped top with a winding path that requires no technical experience. As
14,000-foot mountains go, Mount Whitney is a relatively easy one to climb. But relat-
ive is the key word. Hiking to the top of the highest peak in the lower 48 states
(second in the continental United States only to Alaska's Mount McKinley), is still a
feat to be admired. Thin air, winding switchbacks, endless sun, and wind exposure
can all take their toll, and this is not a task to be taken lightly. Preparation—both
mental and physical—is the key to success. From trailhead to summit requires more
than 6,000 feet of elevation gain over 11 miles. The fittest of trail runners accomplish
the feat in less than three hours. But your average hiker will need anywhere from 12
to 16 hours to make the journey.
DIRECTIONS: Whitney Portal lies 13 miles west of Lone Pine, off US 395, at the end
of Whitney Portal Road. There is no public transit to the portal itself, but every car
that leaves the parking lot goes through Lone Pine, so it's fairly easy to hitch a ride.
You can take public transit as far as Lone Pine via Inyo Mono Transit's CREST
bus. It travels from Lone Pine south 1.5 hours to Ridgecrest and north to Bishop (1
hour) or Mammoth Lakes (2 hours). From Bishop, it's possible to transfer to another
bus farther north to Reno. Rates and routes are subject to frequent change; call
ahead for information and reservations at [phone] or [phone]. More in-