Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Night at the summit

What are the things to consider before spending a night at the summit ? is the hut a good place to seek shelter during an electrical storm ? anything else to consider ?

I cannot wait to experience spending the night on the summit under the stars.
Thanks in advance

carthick, this is the first thing that you see when you open the summit hut door:



That being said, the authorities have installed a few lightning rods and added a wooden floor for insulation since the last person was electrocuted in the hut seeking shelter from a storm. It's my understnding that no one has been lit up in the hut since this was done. However, I suspect being in this structure during an electrical storm would be far too similar to occupying Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory on that special night . . .

The cons on spending the night on the summit are:

1. If a medical emergency arises, you are a long way from help.
2. If the weather turns nasty, you will have a difficult retreat in the dark.
3. People report sleepless nights due to altitude and wind.

The pros are:

1. Not many have pictures of sunset and sunrise from the summit.
2. Bragging rights on this board.

There was a group that camped up there this last thurs. night. All seemed to be in good spirits, although the weather was perfect. There are a few little spots up there where people built rock walls to protect from wind.

Several years ago, a few people were killed in the summit hut during an electrical storm, and others injured. Good advice during an electrical storm would be to run, not walk, and get the hell off the mountain as fast as your legs will take you.

I've slept on the summit 5 times now... The last time was last summer as I ended the JMT, and I was the only one up there.

Absolutely… keeping an eye on the weather is a MUST. The other thing to consider is water – staying on the top means carrying your pack the whole way up, with enough water to get you thru the night plus the next morning ‘til you get down to the first source of water. That means a HEAVY pack.

For me, it’s worth it. Each time was so special... so memorable. Yes, it's cold, windy, and not the best sleep, but the sunset, stars and sunrise are worth it. There are some really nice “shelters” dug out and reinforced behind the hut.

ANY time you reach the summit there is that sense of accomplishment, but, for me, staying on top completes it. After the last of the hikers head down and the summit is still and quiet, there is such peace and beauty, looking out over the Sierra, it’s humbling. It is truly spiritual.

I have spent the night on the summit a couple of times, and the biggest thing to watch out for, as mentioned before, is the weather. If it looks like there is any possibilty of a thunderstorm, do not think of spending the night on the summit, and especially not in the hut. The other issue is water. From where ever you're coming from (Guitar Lake or Trail Camp), you will have to carry enough water to last the extra day on the summit. Each time I have been there for the night, I plan on an extra gallon minimum. Remember that water weighs about 8.33 pounds a gallon.

I like to spend the night outside, so I pitch my tent behing the hut, at one of the rock shelters built just for that purpose. I think that it has been one of my favorite experiences in the 12 times that I have summited. And believe me, the sunset and sunrise make it worthwhile. You'll have pictures that not too many others will have.

Whitney Mike

just do it in winter when water is not a problem - you can melt as much snow as you want