Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Begin at Whitney Portal (8,365 feet), stocking up on snacks and water before
departing. We've listed this as a day hike, as most attempt to summit Whitney in this
fashion, but truthfully we advise an overnight stay en route to acclimate to the alti-
tude and to be healthy enough to enjoy the unparalleled view from the top. Day
hikers should start before sunrise to maximize daylight for the journey. Layered
clothing, plenty of water and food, sunscreen, and a light source are all requirements.
After a little more than a half mile of walking, enter John Muir Wilderness and begin
a series of steep open switchbacks through manzanita and stands of mountain ma-
hogany and pine. Rock-hop across Lone Pine Creek and follow the creek on its
southern bank. Ignore the unmarked spur trail leading to the right unless you plan on
scaling the eastern face of Mount Whitney with mountaineering gear. There is a
signed junction to Lone Pine Lake a little more than 2.5 miles from the trailhead.
This is the closest camping to the trailhead, and it's a lovely spot with fewer crowds
than subsequent campgrounds. To sleep here, simply follow the path less than a half
mile to tent sites by the lake.
From the main trail, continue west up sandy sage-scented switchbacks and
along a ridge, before descending slightly into the flower-strewn meadow of Bighorn
Park. Traverse the south side of the meadow to cross Lone Pine Creek again and
reach Outpost Camp (10,367 feet) nearly 4 miles from the trailhead at Whitney
Portal. Crowded tent sites and solar toilets provide a halfway home for many hikers.
If you camp here, you can leave your heavy gear at base camp to lighten your load
up the mountain. In recent years, the toilets have not been able to keep up with the
number of hikers, and they are often full toward the end of the season. In 2006, more
than 30,000 people camped in the Whitney Zone alone. As a result, the forest service
is asking all backpackers to pick up “pack-it-out” kits and pack out
all
their trash.
These glamorous “wag bags” come with toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and deodorant
gel. There are disposal bins at Whitney Portal upon return to the trailhead. While it's
less than spectacular to have to carry your wag bag with you, you can rest easy in the
knowledge that you're aiding environmental progress.
Continue climbing up switchbacks to cross the outlet of Mirror Lake (10,640
feet), a gorgeous spot for a rest by its reflective waters. Camping is prohibited.
Continue climbing up, through stunted white-bark pines, to rise above the treeline
and arrive at Trailside Meadow. Continue rising up the granite landscape. Enjoy
views of Consultation Lake to the south. Ascend poured concrete stairs to Trail
Camp (12,000 feet). Listen for the high-pitched call of pikas—small, tailless, rab-
bitlike animals with laid-back ears—that frequent the area.
Trail Camp, the last legal camping area with water, lies close to 2,500 feet, and
more than 4 miles below, Whitney. It is not without charm and enjoys lovely sunsets
