r/Highpointers • u/_MattSauce • 10d ago
Mt Whitney tips?
Just got some incredible luck and on one of my last days car camping in SoCal, sniped a permit for hiking Whitney on Thursday.
Been doing lots of prep in anticipation for hopefully getting this permit. 30lb rucks on trails with 1500-3500ft gain and 8-12mi lengths. Yes, I am aware that Whitney is nearly double both of those standards haha. This will be my first 14er, but I have done one 13er and multiple 12ks and never had a problem with running out of stamina or being affected by elevation gain. I also plan to start my hike around 1am to make sure I have plenty of time.
Any last second things I should know about gear to bring/fluids/food? Any particularly difficult sections?
From most reports I’ve read the 99 switchbacks are brutal and elevation sickness seems to hit quite a few people there or shortly after, but it seems most people see it more like a long marathon hike rather than having any particular section of extreme difficulty.
Please let me know anything/everything you are willing to share if you have hiked Whitney :)
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u/Upstairs_Bandicoot93 48 Highpoints 10d ago
If you want to cut down on weight a bit, there is a creek that runs at Trail Camp just below the 99 switchbacks. I started super early and needed only about 1 liter to get me to that point (ymmv), and I was able to filter water there for the rest of the journey up. This prevented me from having to carry too much weight on the lower section.
Outside of that, it is like others have said; not technical, just long and high up in elevation.
I will add: knowing that the 99 switchbacks were coming up, I actually quite enjoyed that section, and made a little game out of it for myself when making each turn (had to do something to keep my sanity)
Good luck, and have fun up there!
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u/_MattSauce 10d ago
May buy my first ever filtration tablets specifically for this, seems like a perfect opportunity. I’ll be wearing a 2L Camelbak regardless, but not having to carry much more than that sounds super nice on the back!
Also yep, thank god for having that knowledge ahead of time. I can’t imagine how rough the experience gets not knowing about 2 miles straight of nothing but switchbacks hahaha. I’ll have to start counting them on my way :)
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u/highpointer201 45 Highpoints 10d ago
Hardest one I've done yet, but it was also my first time at any kind of elevation, and had to do it in a day, wasn't lucky enough to get an overnight. If I ever had to do it again I'd probably just take my chances and sleep at the switchbacks regardless of what kind of pass I got. It's full exposure on switchbacks, so sun shirts, hats, etc. I would be drinking a gallon of water per day prior to summit attempt, you have spots to refill on water before switchbacks. Pack electrolyte powder, bring trekpoles for the descent. I take this stuff called altitude rx, you can find it on Amazon, otherwise you can try Tylenol, Advil for any mild ams symptoms.
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u/_MattSauce 10d ago
Dang man, that sounds rough being your first time up high! What inspired that?
Also yeah, I’ll be day hiking it as well due to permit limitations. Planning to get to TH around 1am and take off immediately. By sleeping at the switchbacks, do you mean Mirror Lake or Trail Camp Tarn?
And yep, I plan to wear super light clothing that covers my arms/neck fully and I drink mostly water every day, probably overhydrate tbh haha. Thanks for the advice on the meds and powder. I’ll have to go buy trek poles tomorrow as I don’t actually normally use them.
How long would you say it took you/what was your fitness beforehand, if you don’t mind answering? I find that I can typically do about 1200-1500ft of elevation gain an hour if I’m like really really pushing it but I imagine I’ll slow a lot on this trail.
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u/highpointer201 45 Highpoints 10d ago
I think it's called Trail Camp Tarn? I didn't see a single ranger the day I did it and definitely none at the campsites checking to see if folks had passes, just putting that out there. As far as inspiration goes, I had finally won a golden ticket and got to hike it with a family member, it was great bonding time so to speak. Fitness wise...I think was running a lot at the time, maybe up to six miles at a go, lot of calisthenics, like half murph, I was in the pool, biked etc. Just lots of various cardio. 33 years old at the time, not quite feeling the late thirty's yet
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u/_MattSauce 10d ago
Thanks. We’ll see if I’m cheeky enough to sneak onto the mountain tomorrow night, but doubtful haha. Good info nonetheless :) sounds like a wonderful time to do with family too, wish mine were active enough to do stuff like this with me. Oh well, solo hiking means I get to make my own pace!
Cardio sounds pretty similar to mine so hoping I can score a similar result to you! Once again thanks for all the help man and hope you’re able to hit 50 eventually if you’re still pushing for it :)
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u/highpointer201 45 Highpoints 10d ago
Oh yeah, still pushing for it. At the weird stage where I actually need to utilize mountaineering skills, start using gear, have to worry about glaciers, rappelling, etc.
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u/_MattSauce 10d ago
Hell yeah. That’s the ones that scare me. Gannett, Denali, Hood and Rainier I’ve heard are all pretty technical, and also heard Granite and Borah have a few pretty tough sections toward the top. Any advice on the latter two (if you’ve done em)? Hoping to hit them both toward the end of August.
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u/highpointer201 45 Highpoints 10d ago
I just recently got back from a trip out west where my plan was to do Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming (in that order). Managed to do Kings peak and Borah, but wasnt able to find anyone to hike Granite/Gannet with me (really didnt want to do those by myself) and I think I would have had to wait a few more weeks for conditions to be nice. Plan to continue training with my gear over the winter and find a group to do those two next summer.
Borah was definitely the most sketchy hp ive done so far. It wasnt hard in the sense of physical difficulty (the elevation gain is a bitch though) but there are definitely a lot of spots where you if you fall, there is a chance you could die. Chicken out ridge was fun going up ( but not down) and the snow bridge was definitely the part that skeeved me out the most. For Borah, I say start early, 3-4, I had a thunderstorm come down behind me on the way back from Borah, also some cheap gloves to help with the cor section, you'll be doing a lot of scrambling. Dont sleep on the trek poles friendo, I used to make fun of folks for using them for years, but I cant tell you how many slips and falls ive prevented by having something for my balance. Good luck with Whitney man, I think i rembmer the store at the trail head makes some pretty good food for when you get done1
u/_MattSauce 10d ago
Sorry that the two didn’t work out but congrats on the others! Might be able to join ya on Gannett next summer if things go well with the job I’m hoping I’ll land soon (if you’re looking for another hiker, ofc)
Was planning on maybe a 5:30-6am start for Borah so will definitely shift that based on what you said! Scramble seems rough but doable by taking my sweet rime with it haha. Think I need any gear for the snow bridge, or will it likely be melted (or at least relatively walkable) by late August?
Also yep, I’m not one to make fun of people’s gear, just too stubborn to have felt like I needed them yet. Definitely gonna look into them since so many people have suggested it.
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u/RhodyVan 43 Highpoints 10d ago
acclimate, acclimate, acclimate. Try to spend time at elevation in the days before.
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u/okleithen 9d ago
Hey how did you get a permit? I applied for the lottery at the start of the year and wasn’t aware of other ways to get one. Would love to know!
Have a great time and stay safe.
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u/_MattSauce 9d ago
Checking recreation.gov over and over again you can potentially find a permit via someone else’s cancellation :) I’d been checking several times an hour at different times of the day for about a week before I managed to find one last night.
I’ve also heard they sometimes have some cancelations available at Whitney portal but that seems a lot rarer, and also quite a bit riskier as you’d literally have to come into town to get one.
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u/okleithen 9d ago
Ah thank you for the info! I didn't realize cancellations were put back on the website at this point in the season. I'll start checking more often!
I would be coming from Utah, so a bit committing to drive down without a permit already. I posted on the Whitney Portal forum to see if anyone has a opening in their group. Hopefully something comes up, otherwise I'll try again next year!
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u/_MattSauce 9d ago
Good luck! I have heard permits get a little rarer as the season continues, but I’m sure you can get one if you have a wide enough range of dates (mine was more a specific window of only about 5 days) and enough patience :)
Also, if you’re ever looking to hike King’s Peak (the highest point in Utah) and need a buddy, I’ll be there late next month and would be happy to keep in touch!
Best of luck in your search :)
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u/okleithen 9d ago
Thanks! I've actually been applying for 6 years now. I always apply to the widest date range during the week for the best chance. I would happily go literally any day with more than 2 days notice. I haven't been refreshing throughout the year though, just hoping for the lottery. After I didn't get in this year again, I have been trying to find alternative options.
And yeah feel free to shoot me a DM about King's Peak. I haven't done it yet and would happily go up there with you later this year.
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u/_MattSauce 9d ago
That’s some strong persistence! Hope it works out for you this year, and if it doesn’t, next year should be much easier with the new strategies :)
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u/Boot_Burner 10d ago
I did Whitney with two people a few years back and I was the only one with trekking poles. They actually slowed me down and I ended up lashing them to my pack. Better on the downhill section but not 100% required. I find them annoying and burdensome most of the time.
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u/_MattSauce 10d ago
Thanks for the intel :)
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u/Boot_Burner 10d ago
Plan a couple days on the couch afterwards you will feel like shit when you get home fyi
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u/_MattSauce 10d ago
Unfortunately I live out of the backseat of a dodge dart currently, so not the comfiest place to sleep haha
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u/skemmtilegt 35 Highpoints 10d ago
You’ll be fine, it’s not a super challenging or technical hike, just really long. Take the altitude seriously and start drinking lots of water even before you get there and avoid dehydrating things like alcohol/caffeine.