Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Do hikers in the same group have to hike together?

I know I might get some flack for saying this. But all of this just makes me realize even MORE just how GREAT solo hiking is. Not only do you NOT have to let bad vibes with other people taint your experience on Whitney (or anywhere else). But I find that my competence level is TENFOLD better when I don’t have to feel inferior to my hiking partners. For instance, I summited Whitney in a little less than six hours when I did it solo on July 30. Could I have done that with other people? HELL NO!! They would have done it in 7-8 hours, and I would have had problems keeping up with them. But since this was my first solo climb up Whitney, it was my quickest and cleanest climb EVER!