Entire Mount Whitney Main Trail (up), Whitney Portal Trailhead to Summit.
Allow for small variations in mileage and elevations. The timing is based on the actual hiking speed of video-taping the trail and may vary with your own (hiking) speed.
"Hike" the entire Mount Whitney Main Trail (up) on YouTube!
In 40 video-clips, of 8 to 10 minutes each, you'll be able to watch the entire trail from Whitney Portal Trailhead to the Summit. All are in real (hiking) time (your time may vary) for a total of 6 hours, 11 minutes. The "first person perspective" capture takes on a very realistic virtual hike all the way up to the 14,496 foot summit.
I video-taped it a few years back in late October under most favorable weather conditions. Snow arrived just a few days later, which would have made it all but impossible to do such "video-hike".
Enjoy - and Happy (Whitney) Trails!
First: Overview in 5 minutes.
And now... The ENTIRE Trail in 6+ hours.
1 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Whitney Portal Trailhead Mt. Whitney Main Trail Mile 0 - 0.3 (0 - 0.5 km) 0 - 9 min (2 mph / 3.2km/h) 8,365 - 8,515'elev. (2550 - 2595m)
2 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Carillon Creek (at mile 0.5) Mile 0.3 - 0.6 (0.5 - 1 km) 9 min - 18 min (2 mph / 3.2km/h) 8,515 - 8,670'elev. (2595 - 2643m)
3 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California North Fork Lone Pine Creek (mi 0.7) John Muir Wilderness (mi 0.8) Mile 0.6 - 0.9 (1.0 - 1.4 km) 18 min - 27 min (2 mph / 3.2km/h) 8,670 - 8,940'elev. (2643 - 2725m)
4 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 0.9 - 1.2 (1.4 - 1.9 km) 27 min - 36 min (2 mph / 3.2km/h) 8,940 - 9,090'elev. (2725 - 2771m)
5 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 1.2 - 1.5 (1.9 - 2.4 km) 36 min - 46 min (1.8 mph / 2.9km/h) 9,090 - 9,250'elev. (2771 - 2819m)
6 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 1.5 - 1.8 (2.4 - 2.9 km) 46 min - 56 min (1.8 mph / 2.9km/h) 9,250 - 9,470'elev. (2819 - 2886m)
7 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 1.8 - 2.1 (2.9 - 3.4 km) 56 min - 1 hr 5 min (2.0 mph / 3.2km/h) 9,470 - 9,690'elev. (2886 - 2954m)
8 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 2.1 - 2.4 (3.4 - 3.8 km) 1 hr 5 min - 1 hr 14 min (2.0 mph / 3.2km/h) 9,690 - 9,820'elev. (2954 - 2993m)
9 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Lone Pine Creek Crossing (mi 2.7) Mile 2.4 - 2.7 (3.8 - 4.3 km) 1 hr 14 min - 1 hr 23 min (2.0 mph / 3.2km/h) 9,820 - 9,970'elev. (2954 - 3039m)
10 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Lone Pine Creek Crossing (mi 2.7) Lone Pine Lake Junction (mi 2.8) Mile 2.7 - 3.0 (4.3 - 4.8 km) 1 hr 23 min - 1 hr 32 min (2.0 mph / 3.2km/h) 9,970 - 10,100'elev. (3039 - 3078m)
11 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California In the Whitney Zone. Mile 3.0 - 3.3 (4.8 - 5.3 km) 1 hr 32 min - 1 hr 42 min (1.8 mph / 2.9km/h) 10,100 - 10,250'elev. (3078 - 3124m)
12 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Bighorn Park (mi 3.4) Mile 3.3 - 3.5 (5.3 - 5.6 km) 1 hr 42 min - 1 hr 49 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 10,250 - 10,360'elev. (3124 - 3158m)
13 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Bighorn Park Outpost Camp (mi 3.7) Mile 3.5 - 3.8 (5.6 - 6.1 km) 1 hr 49 min - 1 hr 58 min (2.0 mph / 3.2km/h) 10,360 - 10,420'elev. (3158 - 3176m)
14 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 3.8 - 4.1 (6.1 - 6.6 km) 1 hr 58 min - 2 hrs 8 min (1.9 mph / 3.0km/h) 10,420 - 10,570'elev. (3176 - 3222m)
15 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mirror Lake (mi 4.2) Mile 4.1 - 4.4 (6.6 - 7.0 km) 2 hrs 8 min - 2 hrs 17 min (2.0 mph / 3.2km/h) 10,570 - 10,770'elev. (3222 - 3283m)
16 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 4.4 - 4.65 (7.0 - 7.4 km) 2 hrs 17 min - 2 hrs 25 min (1.9 mph / 3.0km/h) 10,770 - 10,930'elev. (3283 - 3331m)
17 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 4.65 - 4.9 (7.4 - 7.8 km) 2 hrs 25 min - 2 hrs 34 min (1.9 mph / 3.0km/h) 10,930 - 11,090'elev. (3331 - 3380m)
18 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Lone Pine Creek Bog (mi 5.1) Mile 4.9 - 5.2 (7.8 - 8.3 km) 2 hrs 34 min - 2 hrs 44 min (1.8 mph / 2.9km/h) 11,090 - 11,335'elev. (3380 - 3455m)
19 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 5.2 - 5.45 (8.3 - 8.7 km) 2 hrs 44 min - 2 hrs 53 min (1.8 mph / 2.9km/h) 11,335 - 11,570'elev. (3455 - 3527m)
20 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California View of Consultation Lake (mi 5.75) Mile 5.45 - 5.75 (8.7 - 9.2 km) 2 hrs 53 min - 3 hrs 3 min (1.8 mph / 2.9km/h) 11,570 - 11,770'elev. (3527 - 3587m)
21 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California View of Consultation Lake (mi 5.75) Mile 5.75 - 6.0 (9.2 - 9.6 km) 3 hrs 3 min - 3 hrs 11 min (1.8 mph / 2.9km/h) 11,770 - 11,925'elev. (3587 - 3635m)
22 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California TRAIL CAMP (12,000ft / 3658m, mile 6.2) Mile 6.0 - 6.3 (9.6 - 10.1 km) 3 hrs 11 min - 3 hrs 21 min (1.8 mph / 2.9km/h) 11,925 - 12,030'elev. (3635 - 3667m)
23 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Switchbacks #1 to 11 Mile 6.3 - 6.5 (10.1 - 10.4 km) 3 hrs 21 min - 3 hrs 28 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 12,030 - 12,130'elev. (3635 - 3697m)
24 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Switchbacks #11 to 23 Mile 6.5 - 6.75 (10.4 - 10.8 km) 3 hrs 28 min - 3 hrs 37 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 12,130 - 12,300'elev. (3697 - 3749m)
25 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Switchbacks #23 to 32 Mile 6.75 - 7.0 (10.8 - 11.2 km) 3 hrs 37 min - 3 hrs 46 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 12,300 - 12,460'elev. (3749 - 3798m)
26 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Whitney Cables (mi 7.25) Switchbacks #32 to 47 Mile 7.0 - 7.25 (11.2 - 11.6 km) 3 hrs 46 min - 3 hrs 56 min (1.6 mph / 2.5km/h) 12,460 - 12,650'elev. (3798 - 3856m)
27 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Whitney Cables (mi 7.25) Switchbacks #47 to 65 Mile 7.25 - 7.5 (11.6 - 12 km) 3 hrs 56 min - 4 hrs 6 min (1.6 mph / 2.5km/h) 12,650 - 12,850'elev. (3856 - 3917m)
28 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Switchbacks #65 to 83 Mile 7.5 - 7.75 (12.0 - 12.4 km) 4 hrs 6 min - 4 hrs 16 min (1.6 mph / 2.5km/h) 12,850 - 13,050'elev. (3917- 3978m)
29 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Switchbacks #83 to 93 Mile 7.75 - 8.0 (12.4 - 12.8 km) 4 hrs 16 min - 4 hrs 26 min (1.6 mph / 2.5km/h) 13,050 - 13,250'elev. (3978- 4039m)
30 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Switchbacks #93 to 99 Mile 8.0 - 8.25 (12.8 - 13.2 km) 4 hrs 26 min - 4 hrs 35 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 13,250 - 13,425'elev. (4039- 4092m)
31 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California TRAIL CREST (13,600ft / 4145m, mile 8.5) Mile 8.25 - 8.5 (13.2 - 13.6 km) 4 hrs 35 min - 4 hrs 43 min (1.8 mph / 2.9km/h) 13,425 - 13,600'elev. (4092- 4145m)
32 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California TRAIL CREST (13,600ft / 4145m, mile 8.5) John Muir Trail Junction (mi 8.7) Mile 8.5 - 8.75 (13.6 - 14 km) 4 hrs 43 min - 4 hrs 53 min (1.8 mph / 2.9km/h) 13,600 - 13,530'elev. (4145- 4124m)
33 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 8.75 - 9.0 (14.0 - 14.4 km) 4 hrs 53 min - 5 hrs 2 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 13,530 - 13,680'elev. (4124- 4170m)
34 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 9.0 - 9.25 (14.4 - 14.8 km) 5 hrs 2 min - 5 hrs 11 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 13,680 - 13,760'elev. (4170- 4194m)
35 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Whitney "Windows" (mi 9.4 / 9.45) Mile 9.25 - 9.5 (14.8 - 15.2 km) 5 hrs 11 min - 5 hrs 21 min (1.6 mph / 2.6km/h) 13,760 - 13,860'elev. (4194- 4231m)
36 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Whitney "Window" (mi 9.55) Mile 9.5 - 9.75 (15.2 - 15.6 km) 5 hrs 21 min - 5 hrs 30 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 13,860 - 13,950'elev. (4231 - 4252m)
37 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Whitney "Window" (mi 9.75) Mile 9.75 - 10.0 (15.6 - 16 km) 5 hrs 30 min - 5 hrs 39 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 13,950 - 14,040'elev. (4252 - 4279m)
38 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Last Whitney "Window" (mi 10.1) Mile 10.0 - 10.25 (16.0 - 16.4 km) 5 hrs 39 min - 5 hrs 48 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 14,040 - 14,210'elev. (4279 - 4331m)
39 Mt. Whitney Main Trail up Sierra Nevada, California Mile 10.25 - 10.5 (16.4 - 16.8 km) 5 hrs 48 min - 5 hrs 57 min (1.7 mph / 2.7km/h) 14,210 - 14,400'elev. (4331 - 4389m)
40 Mt. Whitney Summit 14,496ft elev. (4,418m) Sierra Nevada, CA Mile 10.5 - 10.7 (16.8 - 17.1 km) 5 hrs 57 min - 6 hrs 6 min (1.6 mph / 2.6km/h) 14,400 - 14,496'elev. (4389 - 4418m) SUMMIT END
Thanks for posting those here Pete! These videos are a great resource for first-timers - and just plain fun to watch. I viewed these on YouTube countless times last year before my first trip up the mountain. I swear, I had that background music running around in my head through most of the day!
Any plans to do one of the Mountaineer's Route? That would be a blast to watch!
Last edited by Bulldog34; 05/27/1005:30 AM. Reason: MR question
I love the hikealongpete videos. I watched them over and over so that when I finally got to the MWMT I actually felt that I had been there. They are really fantastic for familarizing oneself for the MWMT.They really helped not making that wrong turn on the backside of trailcrest.
Re: I had that background music running around in my head through most of the day! A: Sorry, even I do that...
Re: Any plans to do one of the Mountaineer's Route? That would be a blast to watch! A: Not sure, it's a little scary of holding and aiming a camera... someday maybe??
Or, maybe we just get this guy (Daniel Ahnen) to do it:
Hey Pete, that's why they invented the helmet-cam! After the MR, you can do Angel's Landing in Zion, the Cables at Half Dome, and all those other places you'd prefer to have both hands free for. TLC, Nat Geo, or the Discovery Channel can fix you up!
I've seen that Camino del Rey video several times over the past few years, and every time it causes - what shall we call it? Recession? Every few years someone dies there, the government closes it for a while then, after people forget, they quietly re-open it without having really changed a thing. I'm sure there's a great simile there, but damned if I can think of one on a Holiday weekend Friday.
I'd considered a head/helmet-cam (and it would have come handy on the Half Dome Cables), but the "bubble" head effect stopped me from using it full-time. Good old hand-held is the only way to go... See comparison below:
Daniel held the camera at chest height, fairly steady and the scenery is very well shown. Originally it was on Brightcove TV with over 6,500,000 views. So far on YouTube 2,226,000+.
Of course these guys do also this...: And looking at it again, I have to admit the climbing and the high-wire act is magnificent.
Helmet-Cam:
Head-cam (visible at 2:10 - 2:20 of video) causes too much "bubble-head" movement, and maybe a little too much tilt to the ground, probably because of inability to see what's recording. Still, good job. 500,000+ YouTube views prove that.
Daniel just posted a new take in HD version - and it's great too. But I still like the original one best.
...seems like there is a little too much "ground" showing and less scenery. Of course he probably wanted to show us the peril of the walk!
BTW, I thought of doing Angels Landing, but never got around. And after looking again at a MR video, I may have to pass on that one. When it comes to exposure, I get that "knotty" feeling in the stomach and shaky hands. And shaky hands is not good when holding and aiming a camera... So, I may have to let one of you do the honor... but, I could still come along for the "easy" part.
Thanks Rod for the comment - very happy to learn that my video "guided" you to the summit - but nevertheless, YOU did it!
Great videos! Lots of time and effort went into those, thank you.
You're right, hand held is the way to go. The nuances the eye gets in the viewfinder is unmatched. But I don't have a helmet cam. Now a helmet cam with a view finder...now we're talkin'.
The MR? Would love to video that if only I had a video camera that wasn't tape-based (OLD). I might do that this summer with a tiny Canon (Costco special). But might be just the Final 400 (carefully!) since the AVI files are as big as the mountain itself. And maybe next winter too...
Can't wait to see more videos of the trails. Great job!
Thanks guys for all the support - posting the clips was almost as hard as the hike itself - just kidding. Well, maybe (video) hiking is easier for me since I am a bit "challenged" at the computer. But thanks to Steve C., who showed me the "ropes", I made it through.
Still thinking about the MR. Maybe in September or October??
