Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board John Muir Trail to Whitney

First of all, how difficult is summiting Whitney via the JMT vs. the regular Mt. Whitney trail? Where could I pick up the Muir trail to summit whitney in which I'd have the shortest approach? I'd like to avoid having to approach Whitney on a 6 day hike, only to summit, and then return those same 6 days. Also, does anybody have info on how I could get a permit for the JMT? I'd appreciate your help

Thanks alot.

a good source of info for the JMT is www/pcta.org. Depending on where you start (if you are hiking the full trail, usually Yosemite) you can get permits either at Yosemite Ranger station or the Ranger Station in Lone Pine. In addition to a Wilderness Permit for the trail, you need a Whitney Zone permit. I've never done it, but I think the closest place to Whitney to join the JMT is probably Crabtree Meadows (via Cottonwood Pass Trail?). Most people only hike the trail one way, either starting or ending at Whitney, but no reason you can't do a round trip. Otherwise, you need to arrange transportation back.

You can do a long loop. Start out Horseshoe Meadows and go up over New/Old Army Pass to Soldier Lake. Then a cross country jaunt through Miter Basin, up and over Crabtree Pass, then pick up the trail at Crabtree Meadows, then Guitar Lake, and summit. Backtrack to Crabtree Meadows and do the longer trail to Cottonwood Pass and out where you started. It is doable in a long week to 10 days of 60+ miles total, with acclimatizaton included, and there is no shuttle problems. Another varient is Onion Valley, to Whitney and back to Horseshoe,(~55 miles), but you will need a ride back to your vehicle. Third trip alternative is Horseshoe to summit and down the MR. All great trips and easier than the zoo line going up the Main trail. Permits are available.

Sierra Sam is right, Cottonwood Lakes is the closest trailhead to Whitney. If you have a little more time you might try Onion Valley to Cottonwood Lakes.

You do not need a Whitney Zone Pemit to summit Whitney anymore they are trying a new system of exit permits this year. You need an Exit Permit if you plan on exiting from Whitney Portal. If your avoiding the Portal trail than you don't have to worry about either.

For instance if you were hiking in from Cottonwood Lakes to Summit Whitney then back to the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead, you would only need to have a wilderness permit.

I'm not sure that you don't need the Whitney Zone permit. My wife and I will doing a round trip from Cottonwood to the summit and back, and I was charged the $15.00 fee for the Whitney Zone when I got my permit. I'd make sure that when you get your permit, you make sure that they know you are planning to go to the summit.

Three years ago I took a group from Cottonwood Lakes to Whitney and then out to the Portal in late September. We did a day hike to UBSL the day before and camped that night at Whitney Portal. The next morning we drove over to Cottonwood Lakes leaving one vehicle for a shuttle at the Portal. Great views, plenty of water along the way and a very well maintained trail. The summit from Guitar Lake to Whitney is a piece of cake after hiking for four to five days at altitude. If you chose to do a shuttle hike find out if you need an exit permit to come over into Whitney Portal. There have been differing opinions regarding this on this board.

The JMT has one end in Yosemite Valley and the other on the summit of Mt. Whitney. Most people hike north to south, so the end of the trail has them on the summit with a ways to go to exit at Whitney Portal. You can pick up the JMT at numerous entry points between the two ends including Tuolumne Meadows where the trail takes a little jog to the north. It's a little over 200 miles to hike the entire trail not counting side trips. If don't want to hike for 6 or more days, maybe you just want the closest trail head to Mt Whitney and not specifically the JMT?

How difficult is the Cottonwood Lakes approach in comparison to the standard Whitney trail from Whitney portal? I'm looking for a solid class 2 hike, but nothing technical or beyond easy class 3.

they are both class 1. Cottonwood is easier, in my opinion, because of the extra days of acclimatization, and starting at 10,000 feet. However, you have to lug your pack up to Trail Crest, which you don't have to do on the regular trail. That may or may not be an issue.

If going on the Cottonwood Approach, make a detour at Soldier Lake and proceed through the Miter Basin. The advantages are: Class 2, some route finding necessary, but pretty straightforward to Crabtree Pass and worth the effort, great fishing,(Skye-Blue Lake, Upper and Lower Crabtree Lakes), and it cuts off about 8 miles as compared to the longer JMT-Rock Creek trail route. You pick up the trail again at Crabtree Meadows and then up to Whitney. We did this last year in late June but did NAP instead of Cottonwood Pass next door. Probably the best trip in recent memory except for the 1/8 mile boulder field crossing at Crabtree Pass.

EXIT QUOTA: cut from http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/mt_whitney.html

WHAT IS TRAIL CREST? If you are entering from a trail other than the Main Mt. Whitney Trail and intend to exit at Whitney Portal using the Main Mt. Whitney Trail, Trail Crest applies as an exit quota. This is the only trail on the Inyo National Forest with a quota set for exit. Currently, that quota is 25 people per day with 60% reservable and 40% held over for walk-ins. You may reserve this exit space at the time of reservation for your entry trail (up to six months in advance).