Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Mt Whitney Hiking Dates Calendar

Hi 2600FromAtari!
Thanks for the info! I am pretty sure I can get a prescription for diamox from my doc but I might just try and see how I do. I am a little worried about my son: he used to get pretty sick at elevations under 13,000 feet but now seems pretty much the same as I am (mostly unaffected). I will hike with him, so if he is having problems with the altitude, we'll have to turn back until he recovers. I don't like the idea of taking meds unless we really need them to be safe. We'll be fast at first, mostly because we like hiking that way. When we get to the switchbacks, we'll be down to 2 mph if all goes well and after that I we might be down to 1 mph. I figure if we leave at 5, get to Trail Camp in 3 hours, get up the switchbacks to Trail Crest by 4.5 hours, get to to the Summit by 7.5 hours, I think we'll be doing really well. If we can't summit by 3PM, we'll turn around.

Another topic: boots. I hate them but one can't very well NOT wear them on Mt. Whitney in snow. I live in a desert and usually hike and run in sandals but I am not so completely insane as to try Mt. Whitney in them. Unfortunately, I just killed the one pair of boots I've hated less than most. Twice up Piestewa Peak two Sundays ago in the 103+ heat and the soles of both were flapping in the breeze. They were a Vasque model no longer made. Got new Gore-Tex Vasques (the kind my kids swear by), and got blisters (one superficial, one super deep) on their maiden vogage. Now I REALLY hate these boots. I don't blister much usually. Debating taking these back to REI and getting something less beefy, vs. getting Superfeet insoles vs. just wearing multiple cushioned layers of socks. I did get a wide boot because I heard concerns about feet swelling; the wide boot may have contributed to the blisters.

Thanks for any suggestions you might have!
Best regards,
Annette

On shoes: I used light hikers, Lowa Bora GTX, on a non-snowy hike last year, and loved them, except for the rocky parts in between Trail Camp and the summit. At that point, I developed foot fatigue, and wished at times that I had a stiffer sole. However, it sure was great hiking with a lightweight, comfortable boot that did not cause blisters (for me). I realize the conditions are different now, and crampons are probably required for some sections, in which case this type of boot would not be appropriate. I am currently breaking in a light mountaineering boot (Scarpa Charmoz GTX) for a first attempt at Shasta next week.

On Diamox and AMS and speed of ascent: our group consisted of three 40-something women. All three of us were first timers, and all three made the summit. However, the two of us on very low doses of Diamox (62.5 mg) who went up slowly did not get AMS (and we both had voracious appetites at the summit to boot); the third woman, who was not taking diamox, and who went up quickly, did get AMS (I believe she started feeling poorly near Trail Crest, and was downright sick the summit, and did not fully recover until she was below 13,000 feet again). Yes, altitude is an individual issue, with serendipity also playing a role. So I share this anecdote for whatever value folks may, or may not, find in it.

Also, I do not believe that the fact that someone who has been to 12,500 on one or more prior occasions without problems necessarily is a predictor of how they will do at 14,500 on a different occasion. Indeed, the woman in the anecdote above had, before getting AMS, (1) spent two nights at 10,000 feet, and a third night at 12,000 feet, and (2) successfully climbed to Kearsarge pass a day before we hit the Whitney Trailhead (just shy of 12,000 feet). Prior sleeping altitude, speed of ascent, level of hydration, and the weather (warmth factor) are among the many variables that may affect the likelihood of getting AMS (in addition to genetics/personal susceptibility).

I have stored that file here:

Whitney Main Trail gpx file:
  http://www.whitneyzone.com/docs/Whitney_MT_Use.gpx
or as a compressed file:
  http://www.whitneyzone.com/docs/Whitney_MT_Use.zip

Hey Steve,

Seven of use will be heading in June 27-30 (4 days, 3 nights)

Cottonwood Trail to Chicken Spring Lake to Rock Creek to Guitar Lake to Whitney Summit and down to burgers and beers.

Cheers,
Kevin

Hi,

Three of us will be doing an overnight on June 19t/20th, staying at Whitney Protal on the 18th.

If anyone is doing similar dates to us, please get in touch!

Derry

You can add our hiking date info:

Lone Pine John party of 10, August 9th, MT, Camping at the Portal

July 11 Day Permit, First time going solo. Have 3 extra permits for that day (7/11) Be nice to have some company with experience??

Got you posted, Lou. Thanks.

About a week before your hike, if you still have any permits available, please call the Inyo N.F. Permit Office ( 760-873-2483 ), and release your permits.

That way someone looking to hike that day can call in and reserve the permits.

Steve: Could you change my summit date to "July 19/20"? Have to move things up a bit to catch a plane on the 23. Also: party now numbers 5.

Thanks

Solo overnight on June 25-26
15 people overnight on Aug 6-7
solo day hike Sept 10

Thank you!

Nei

July 9th, two people on the Mountaineer's Route, dayhike.

group of 4 couples

@ portal on June 18th
@ trail camp June 19th
try for summit and down June 20th

Such a busy schedule lately, but it's looking good for me gettin up to MW this weekend. I have Jury duty this week....We'll see tomorrow how big my commitment is.

soooo, to the point of this message. I don't have a permit. If anybody has had a drop out from their group or otherwise has room in their group for Friday or Saturday, I'd be most appreciative.

My plan is:
Friday Departure (if jury duty is minimal)
Friday night: LPL or outpost camp.
Saturday night: Trail camp
Sunday: Hang out, practice Glissade and self arrest. No intention of summiting. Return to portal

Saturday Departure
Saturday Night: Trail Camp
Sunday: Hang out a bit and practice glissade and self arrest, no intention of summiting. Return to portal

Alternate 1:
go up MR as far as safely possible.

Alternate 2 (if I can't score MW permit):
Meysan Trail: as far as safely possible

Other key factor here is that I may be getting into the lone pine area later than the wilderness office is handing out permits, so if someone has a spare, it definitely would work out well for me.

And of course, I wouldn't necessarily need to hike or camp with you. I like to take my time and don't want to hold anyone up.

message me if you've got anything.

td, call the Wilderness Permit number multiple times starting Wednesday morning: 760-873-2483, and ask about overnight permit cancellations. You'd have to pay the $15 reservation fee, but then, on Thursday, you should be able to call the Visitor Center in Lone Pine, and request that they put your permit in the overnight box for you to pick up. Their number is 760-876-6200.

If the above works, please report back. I am curious how much hassle it is to make the arrangements.

will do! thanks steve!

Day Hike July 12th with my son and I and plan to leave around 3AM, hoping to make it to the summit.

Staying at Cottonwood overnight the 10th and 11th to acclimate.

We are trying to find an overnight permit for the night of the 12, and looking for cancellations or available permits for overnight stay the 12th and someone to hike with.

We are first time hikers of Whitney but are preparing adequately with hikes such as a 16 mile hike in San Diego with 4000 ft in elevation gain, San Jacinto peak, and San Gorgonio vivian creek trail.

Please let me know if anyone is interested in hiking together that day.

I just now released 2 of my 3 dayhike permits for the Whitney MT on July 28. So if that's your date, and if you are dayhiking Whitney and need 2 permits, give the Visitor Center in Lone Pine or Permit Center in Bishop a call.

CaT

8 guys going up on July 17th. 4 have summited before and 4 are new. Camping at the portal. It could happen that we have a late withdraw, if we do I will post the opening.

RE Boots... if you don't want blisters, don't buy a gortex boot... Fit: they should fit perfect in the store with the socks you will be wearing; never buy a boot too big in anticipation of foot swelling... Hiking... break them in (actually your feet)a little at a time weeks before a big hike... during the hike take two extra pairs of socks and change them as needed during the hike to keep your feet from getting too wet... if you know where you tend to get blisters, try putting some moleskin on the spot and the beginning of the hike... before you get a bilister... Boot/Foot management 101... Bill

My little brother (Nick Lathen - 22) and I (Chris Lathen - 25) are heading out for a one day hike on July 1st, please add us to your register. Planning on leaving the Whitney Portal parking lot at about 2-3 AM. Those of you looking for a day use permit might care to know that I released two of my four reserved spots yesterday (28 June) and they haven't updated the availability list since then so if you called tomorrow you could probably get our other two spots. See you all on the Mountain.