In my experience training for a one day MT. Whitney hike I try to do at least 12-16 miles on the weekends preceding Whitney. I hike steep hills to get my legs ready. The steeper the better, distance is not as important as steepness IMO. For example, I will do 11 mile (4000 ft gain) Mt. Baldy Ski Hut trail up and Devils Backbone down (W/Mt. Harwood) and the next weekend I will do 13 mile (5800 ft gain) Baldy Bear Canyon Trail (very difficult and steep). I will switch off between very difficult and steep and not so difficult but steep every weekend before Whitney. The weekend before Whitney I try to not overdo it, so I will do Register Ridge, Harwood, Baldy and West Baldy and come down the Ski Hut trail for a shorter but still steep hike. This year I am doing Baldy Ski Hut up DBB down every other weekend and in between I am doing Baldy Bear Canyon, San Bernardino Peak and Half Dome.
Hope this helps, steep is the key for me! I will be on Whitney Sat. Sept 9.
-Dan
