I went in from Onion Valley and was at elevation for 5 days prior to going up from 12,200 feet. It really was pretty easy from Guitar Lake to Trail Crest. The last 2 miles are not very scary at all, at least to me. But seeing the amount of people day hiking and coming in from the east, I would try to avoid the crowds if at all possible. Water up from the portal is very easy to get. But from the last camp up you may find it on the lower part of the switchbacks. Lots and lots of tents at the last camp prior to the switchbacks. Biggest and hardest thing is that the 11 mile trail to the summit is 8 mile of walking on rocks. Going over Forrester Pass was much tougher then getting up Whitney.
