Hello to all. I wanted to post this as reading previous trip reports was a tremendous help for me, so i hope that this finds itself helpful to all of you...
I'm big on knowing where i am and how much longer until the next point... so here's a little guide of where things are based on their distance from the portal... if any of these are wrong please feel free to correct.
Lone Pine Lake - 2.8 miles, altitude 9.9k
Outpost Camp - 3.8 miles, altitude 10.4k
Mirror Lake - 4.0 miles, altitude 10.6k
Trail Side Meadow - 5.0 miles, altitude 11.4k
Trail Camp - 6.0 miles, altitude 12.0k
Trail Crest - 8.2 miles (if you use the switchbacks), altitude 13.7k
Summit - 11 miles, altitude 14,497 or 14,505 depends on who you ask lol... either way you're on the highest point in the lower 48! great job!
we started from the portal at about 9 on 05/16 with intentions of setting up camp at Trail Camp. Weather at the portal was great, but got colder the higher we got. Finding water is a non-issue as there is PLENTY of water flowing at each of the above points up to trail camp. after Trail Camp there is no more water, so make sure to fill up!
Trail up to Trail Camp is 90% snow free and we were able to get there without crampons. There are a couple of spots just after Trail Side Meadow that require traversing over snow and then its back to the normal trail. Took us about 4 hours of actual hike time to get to Trail Camp. Once there, there is no shade and the wind was blowing HARD! there are a couple of sites that shelter you from the wind but for the most part you are out in the open. We set up camp for the night and got in the tent ASAP. the combination of the grueling 4k altitude gain and the cold wind made it an easy choice to get in and stay in the tent.
as the previous post says, the wind didn't let up all night. it was hard to get solid sleep as some of the wind gusts would rattle the tent so bad and wake us up. As of the date of our trip, the switchbacks were not accessable. Trail Crest is not accessable via the switchbacks. People were saying that the lower section of switchbacks is clear of snow, but once you get higher on the switchbacks it gets to a point where the snow makes it impassable. Everyone was using the Chute.
From Trail Crest, i would NOT recommend anyone attempting to go further without Crampons AND ice axes...We woke up at 3 am at Trail Crest, but decided that due to the strong wind it was unsafe to attempt climbing the Chute in the dark. We went back asleep and woke up at about 6 and didn't see anyone starting up the Chute until about 6:30. We started out at about 7:15 and took us about 1.5 hours to make it to Trail Crest. my GPS clocked the Chute at .8 of a mile and 1500 feet elevation gain! Enjoy the view up here, its absolutely amazing!!
From here you're 1.9 miles from the summit. You no longer need crampons but there are a couple of sections that require you to traverse snow. From Trail Crest to Summit, the wind does not let up! Please take this section of the trail seriously. 1) you're exhausted from your trek up the chute, 2) the lack of oxygen in the air really starts to affect you, and 3) the wind is strong. the combination of these three work against you and might cause you to make bad decisions. please stay safe!
The Summit was amazing, you realy feel a sense of accomplishment. We took some cool pics and hung out in the hut for a bit. We were so fortunate that all the other groups summitting that day were in harmony. Although we were all strangers to each other, being on that mountain made us feel one. We shared food, stories, and company. there was about 14 of us smushed into that little hut at the summit, but what a great group it was! felt like i've known everyone that i just met for years! I met so many cool people this trip, which only added to my experience. Without naming names on here, to all those who summitted with us that day, what an epic journey it was!.. hope your trip back safe!
From the summit, everything was seamless except for going back down the Chute. By the time we made it back off the summit and back to Trail Crest, what was hard packed frozen snow had turned into slush and made it for an interesting trip down. Some people slid down on their butts, i chose to ever so carefully walk it back down with my crampons on and ice ax in hand. There's two schools of thinking here, some say go down with crampons some say go down without. Just remember that if you slide down that steep steep hill with your crampons on and they catch the ice at any one point, you WILL be going head over heels and possibly breaking an ankle. I WALKED down, with my crampons and ice ax, avoiding any sliding at all. Sliding is faster than what i chose, but standing at Trail Crest looking down the Chute is intense!
wow that was a mouth full, i really didn't want to write so much but with everything fresh in my mind its hard to leave anything out. so i leave you with these words to the wise ..
Words to the wise (in no particular order of importance)
1) wear sun tan lotion! (i messed this one up and now look like a raccoon! lol)
2) do not attempt to go up the Chute without crampons and ice ax. the ice ax was a HUGE part of my gear and added so much confidence going up AND coming down.
3) Elevation Sierra Adventure in Lone Pine... (
Elevation Sierra Adventure ) if you need ANYTHING these guys are the real deal! small little shop but a massive amount of knowlege about anything hiking, backpacking, and climbing. and to top it off they're all cool down to earth people who love being out there just as much as me and you.
4) if you camp at Trail Camp, make sure to get a site that is blocked from the wind. a good night's sleep is necessary to prepare for what you are about to take on the next morning.
5) from Trail Crest to Summit is a narrow narrow trail with a long drop off, hike with caution. remember that you are fatigued and that the lack of oxygen will affect you!
6) do your homework! get as much info as possible before heading out. know what the weather is going and bring the appropriate gear. Know what you are about to get yourself into. this is NOT an easy hike!
7) This site was a wealth of knowledge to me, hope it finds itself as useful to you
Mount Whitney Climbing 8) does anyone know how i can add pics on here? LOL, each time i click on the "enter image" icon it asks for a URL
