1. You do not hike Mt. Whitney solo. You will have 160 of your nearest and dearest new friends for company. The conga line of headlights will prove that very early on.
2. Never having a problem at 11,500' does not mean you will not have problems at 14,500'. The only way to tell is to replicate what you are attempting...go to White Mountain a month earlier than your Whitney attempt.
3. For night hiking, you will need a good headlight. The rest is similar to day hiking only a touch slower. Take a short distance night hike on a trail you are familiar with before heading to Mt. Whitney.
