Mt. Diablo is probably the best hike in the Bay Area for preparing for Whitney (as far as continuous vertical ascent), but I don't consider it a sufficient prep hike. Rather I use it as a starting point for doing a couple of sierra hikes before Whitney. Usually one in Yosemite (Half Dome or Clouds Rest), and Kings Canyon (Granite Pass or Kennedy Pass).
Those hikes will simulate the distance and total elevation gain of Whitney (but not the altitude of course, but then it's much better than sea level starting points in the Bay Area), and it's a reasonable drive away (Yosemite about 4 hours and Kings Canyon 5 hours). I leave around 2 AM to do those day hikes.
Ideally though it would be best to do a multi-day Sierra hike of 3 days or so, a week or two before Whitney to be better acclimated. The acclimation won't wear off completely before then and you should be recovered (and better fit) as well.
Last year as an alternative to Diablo, I did a loop hike around the Lucas Valley-Big Rock ridge line (the ridges along both sides of Lucas Valley road), which was about 14 miles and 3300 feet of total elevation gain (about the same as Diablo). Although it's not one continuous up and and then down, I don't think it's any less effective than if it were (after all, there is no acclimation benefit in any case). So beautiful loop hikes with all the Whitney distance and accent numbers can be easily drawn up and hiked in the Bay Area, as long as you're OK that it's going to be several ups and downs.
Last edited by bruce; 05/08/15 07:48 AM.
