Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board The main trail on video

For what it's worth, someone has video taped the entire main trail. They are selling them on ebay as item 3374086445. I suppose these might answer newcomer questions about the cables, the windows, water availability, and such.

Thanks for the tip Richard. I checked out Ebay and this video set is actually 3 tapes, 6 hours total, a complete portal to summit video taken on a 6 hour hike to the summit. The picture of the video boxes looks like it was professionally done.

I ordered a set, and when I ordered it, the amount available went from 8 to 7. I don't know how Ebay works, not sure if the seller makes more available later, but if anybody wants a set, check it out soon.

Hey Richard thanks. I ordered a set of those videos for my collection. Sure saves hauling a video camera to the top. The digital camera I haul around is enough weight.

Have a great New Year everyone!

JJBB

I'm wondering about these little video cameras you can clip onto your collar or your hat...set it for a photo ever 1 minute or so (for me maybe every 5 minutes) you would have a low-quality video of a summit and back, it would be whacky if nothing else.

I'll let you know, I just ordered a set.What's twenty bucks anyway?

Hikin bob, please let us know when you receive these, and how good of quality they are. The seller is very new with only a feedback rating of one. He just put 10 more up for sale!

I ordered a set as well -- if for no other reason than to keep my spirits up during the otherwise bleak, drab, dreary and LONG midwest winter where the nearest real mountain is several hundred miles and several states away!

Let us know when one of you watches the video's.

I recieved my copy of the video today and I just got done watching it. After everything was said and done it was definately worth the $20 that it cost. I really think that someone who has never climbed the mountain would find this video set very beneficial. The guy who took the video is an all star in my book. As far as I could tell he only stopped once or twice, probably for a battery change and some food.
He filmed the video in the autumn of this year, there was hardly anyone on the mountain. He passed a few small groups coming down and he passed by a few people on the way up. While crossing the log's on the NF of LP Creek he was basically forced off the logs by someone who obviously had a balance issue. But he didn't break stride and continued on. He flew up the switchbacks, not stopping once. He took many panoramic shots of the area, taking in Wotan's Throne, Mcadie, Consultation, Muir, the Needles, Trail Camp and so on. There was only one tent at Trail Camp and none at Outpost Camo. There was still some deeply embedded ice at the cables, nothing that covered the trail but, you could see why the cables are there.
There was no running dialouge, the film was set entirely to John Tesh type music.
The first thing that popped into my mind when I started watching the film was how little I remembered of the trail, it's nuances, the vegetation and how many rocks are loose, just laying across the trail. I fast forwarded through most of the film, rewinding and pausing when something jumped out at me. In one shot, about 1000 feet below Trail Camp the videographer does a pan across the scenery, his shadow is cast on the rocks and this is the only time we really see his camera set up. He has some sort of steady-cam rig attached to the camera and his body which makes the camera shot pretty jiggle free.The camera is not small, it's not one of those slim-line things that fit in your shirt pocket.
Like I said, definately worth the money. It was a great re-fresher for me since I haven't been to the Whitney area in a few years(time does play funny tricks on the mind) and in my opinion, would be very beneficial for someone who hasn't climbed Whitney before. Video clarity was excellent and shipping was super fast too.

Perhaps the producer can put these on DVD instead of VHS. VHS is so 1998

I received my set of videos too. Fast forward is the way to go. Good quality, no shaking, good price. Sure beats carrying a bulky video camera.

JJBB

I just checked Ebay and the tapes are all sold. Does anyone who has bought the tapes have an address for purchasing them other than at ebay?

Perhaps on the box cover of the tape? I'm planning on doing the Mountaineer's route but I'd still be interested in seeing the regular trail route that these tapes would show.
Thanks.

The address that came on the box was:

HIKE-ALONG VIDEOS
PO BOX 81702
LAS VEGAS, NV. 89180

The guy's name is Peter Wagenberg.

I was thinking about doing a similar thing when I do the MR this summer. I would definately have to get a new camcorder though, mines about six years old now and is not very light. Maybe one of those new digital things that use a hard disc and weigh 8oz would be the ticket.

Dean

Go the the item # in the first post which is sold out. Then click on the button that says "other listings by this seller". There are more tapes available that will show up in a list.

Sierra Stryder, that is just the info I need. Ken, I had clicked on the button you mentioned and came up with videos on the Grand Canyon but no address. Thanks to both of you for responding as I appreciate it.

Just got my copy of the 3 set tape series yesterday and was really impressed with the quality of the video. Yes it is 6 hrs. and 6 min. long but using fast forward and stopping along the way is ideal for discovering specific landmarks (which he has labeled extremely well)to aid in hiking the trail. I think this video gives a real feel for the trail if you never hiked it although there is no way to experience it without being there yourself! I must admit that I have only hiked down the trail twice never up (I've always approached it from the West- Horseshoe Meadows to Guitar Lake and up the back side)so it was totally different to see it the way most of you hike it. Just a technical note- I am a part time video producer and was curious how he made the tape. If you freeze frame the video at just below Trail Camp (5.5 miles- 11,615ft. marker on the tape) there is a shadow of the apparatus he used to film it. It appears to be a modified "steady cam"!! WOW! Those things weigh more than a few pounds...hats off to hikealongpete for a great video!

I finally got my set today and watched them as soon as I got home from work. I very much enjoyed them. However, as a musician, it took me less than 5 minutes before I turned off the sound -- I couldn't take the new age-ish "doctor's office" music for much longer than that, let alone six hours!!

As suggested by others here, once I watched a little bit of it at the regular speed, I put it on fast forward, and watched the rest of the three videos at that speed (except when the hut at the summit finally came into view -- then I slowed it back down). He obviously filmed it on a great weather day, although the heavy fire smoke obscuring much of the view in many directions was an unavoidable disappointment (we were on a hiking vacation throughout the Sierra during the same time this was filmed, and remember all the smoke only too well -- it cut short or eliminated, in some cases, some of our hikes). I was constantly amazed, though at what a feat it was to produce this kind of quality video by lugging such a heavy camera up 6,000 of trail at elevation! Amazing!

The only thing I would change, besides losing the music altogether, would be to replace the music with the actual sounds going on during the entire hike (i.e., the "crunching" sound of hiking boots walking on the trail and the occasional greeting of fellow hikers along the way, to name a few). This would give the "virtual hike" a much more real-life feel to it than hearing only music and nothing else. I understand the reasoning behind doing it the way it was done; but my personal preference would be to have the real-life sounds in order to better experience the feeling of quiet, solitude, and of being "right there". Just my two cents, now that I've seen the videos. Overall, a good value. They will make great in-home work-out videos to watch during the endless "night" that is winter in Ohio.

I work in television news and a couple of years ago while training for my first ascent saw a real need for a Whitney video. I approached the Inyo Nat'l Forest and -- to make a long story short -- ran into nothing but problems. They said a film permit would be necessary, insurance coverage, fees, even claimed an environmental impact study might be necessary! I eventually did do a report about Whitney for Fox News, but it was made perfectly clear to me that an independent "for profit" video would be opposed -- and legal action might be taken if I did it without permission. Even when I suggested a portion of the proceeds could be set aside for trail maintainance they opposed it. The funny thing is, I didn't anticipate making any money myself from such a project -- I would have been happy just to recover my costs.

My hats off to the guy who did this video on E-Bay. Lugging a camera to the summit ain't easy. And $20 is a great bargain! But he should know the Forest Service won't be too happy when they hear about it.

What really suprises me is that the FS didn't do their own production of the Whitney Trails to sell on their website or in the ranger stations. They would make so much money from selling videos of Whitney, Yosemite, a video of the JMT, Evolution Valley, Grand Tetons, Mt.Shasta and the other main points of interest in the FS jursidiction.Maybe they really don't have their act together?

Thanks guys for giving me such great reviews and support for my videos! You are THE ultimate (pro)critics and it encourages me to do more trails. I have always felt a need to bring the beauty of our natural wonders into our living rooms, especially for people who are'nt able to endure such long and high altitude hikes. But also for ourselves, to relive our hiking adventures.

I was extremely lucky to do this video on the first try. I don't think I would have had another chance. It was getting late in the year. But everything fell into place: The weather was perfect, nice fall colors, no wind, no ice on the trail (just to the side where the cables are).

I also had a good feeling about it, although I have never hiked (or filmed) higher than 12.000 feet. Above Trailcamp and into the switchbacks I experienced a new energy boost to keep continuing. It was as if the spirits of Mallory, Irvine, John Muir and Whitney pushed me, to go on, so I will be able to show people their "beautiful homes", being some of tallest mountains in the Sierras... Closer to the summit, I truly had to use my last reserves and speed up to make it within six hours, so I can put it on three VHS videos without cutting off any scenery.

I also appreciate the input from "ansoncom". I've checked into the INYO Forest service website, which states that permits are NOT required when filming documentaries without use of actors, models, sets, or props. Thanks for that. It would have been really disappointing to be unable to show the beauty of our natural wonders to other people, who otherwise never have a chance to see it.

Finally, I'ld like to make a comment about the Mt. Whitney Trail. I am a born Austrian, where I hiked and climbed extensively in the Southern Alps of Austria. I also hiked many peaks within the Julian Alps of Northern Italy and Slovenia (Yugoslavia), being the mountains of the Triglav National Park my favorite. Unfortunately, many of the trails are not suited to do a video hike. Vertical sections have to be mastered, which are secured by steel cables and ladders. I cannot hold a camera while I pull myself up a rock face. As for the Mt. Whitney trail; it's probably the most beautiful and best maintained trail I've ever hiked. Thumbs up for the US Forest Service for protecting America's beauty!

hikealongpete