Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board I need an advice about hiking the great Whitney

Hi, I am brand new in this message board. I am glad that there is something like that out there.. Ok, my question(s) is: me and my buddies ( two of them ) are planning on a nice road trip around the states before we all go to different directions - Canada and Europe. We will be in CA in between 19th - 24th of June. I think it will be great idea to top our trip with climbing Mt. Whitney. Of course there is a problem - I don't think we will make it all way up and down in one day. We plan on at least 2 days. Now - I called the permit lady about getting one, and she told me that all of the camping spots are taken - on the main trail. She said that the only way do it it would be by another trail - I think she said Cottonwood trail. Now - I think I got a little confused. Where are the camping spots ? Are they on the mount ( on the way to the top? ) or they are on the trail below ? Because if they are on the way up, then why would that make any difference for us to take CottonWood Trail ( As far as I know the main trail and cottonwood are mergining together right before the main climb ). I hope I didn't confused it too much. My another question is: does anyone know about the conditions of the way up. I saw a post on this board about current conditions, however this may change withing 3 weeks. Is that right ? I don't think we will have crampons, we could have ice axes - however we have never used one. Is that a good idea to climb it then? All of us are in really good shape, as far as endurance, condition. And the last question will be, if we start at Lone Pine ( we have a car ) how long of a hike that will be to get to the top of Mt. Whitney, throught CottonWood trial? Short enought for 2 day trip ?
Guys, I really appriciate your help.

You cannot reasonably do it in two days from Cottonwood. Most take 4-5.

I believe that she was referring to permits, not camping spots, which would make no sense.

I would suggest that you instead, climb Mt. Langley, a few miles to the south, that has nearly the same view, but for which you will not need a permit to do a day climb...or two days, a moderate trip, for which you will need a permit, but which will be likely to be available. You also start at 10,000 feet instead of 8,000, and there is no problem camping at the trailhead (which is the cottonwood LAKES trailhead, not the cottonwood PASS, the other fork of the road).

You won't need axe or crampons for either hike, I think.

Ruben - Every February the Forest Service conducts a lottery for permits to hike Mt. Whitney. There are separate permits for those who want to camp overnight and for those who will do the entire hike in one calendar day. Overnight permits are completely taken for the whole summer and fall season. That is what the ranger meant when she told you that "the camping spots were taken". There are two primitive camping areas along the main trail. They are named Outpost Camp (about 4 miles up the trail) and Trail Camp (about 8 miles up the trail). As the lady suggested, you can get to Mt. Whitney by way of the Cottonwood Lakes basin which is some 20 miles south of Lone Pine. But, as Ken said, this a 4 to 5 day backpacking trip. And, as has been pointed out many times on this board, if you don't know how to use ice axe and crampons, Mt. Whitney is not the place to learn.

Ruben, Lone Pine is the town where you get your permit but there are numerous trailheads. If you go to the ranger station there you can be put on a waiting list for that day and if anyone doesnt pick up their permit, you can have it for free. It is a 13 mile drive to the trailhead (the portal) for the main Whitney trail, the mountaineers trail and the circumnavigation trail, and the Meysan Lake trail. Unfortunately it is rather late in the day when they give them away. I am talking about the permit for the main Whitney trail which is sold through the lottery as mentioned before. You can hike up any other trail and return via the main Whitney trail without a lottery permit, you just have to have the whitney zone entered on your regular permit. The hiking distances in miles one way to the summit are as follows: Main trail 11.0 ; mountaineers route 4.7 ; circumnavigation 12.0 ; meysan lake route 12.1 ; new army pass 18.1 ; cottonwood pass 29.7 miles. So If you were to take the cottonwood trail add 11 miles to get back down the main trail.

Thank you guys for all your good advices.

I got it now: Sadly, cottonwood trail won't be an option for us. Way too long. We have only alltogether 15 days to see Grand Canyon, Zion Park, Death Valley and learn how to surf near San Diego. The rest ( approx. two days ) we though to spend hiking that fat Whitney.

We will have to think if we want to try the waiting-list-permit deal. I understand that it is first come- first serve, basis. Have you ever done it? Are there any helpful tips how to be the first one?

What time someone has to pick up the permit by?

Ken, Richard and Snokone - thanks guys for the help. If I can help anyone with how to hitch hike safely and easly all across Europe, just let me know I will be more than happy to do so.

Ruben-

Also try asking people at the rangers office if they have any extra room on their permits. In addition, try posting on this board in the next week or so to see if anyone is cancelling their trip and could get you their permits. Good luck!

Ruben, it is common to see people camped out on the sidewalk at 4 am, waiting for the Ranger station to open, to try to get a permit. Don't know any other tricks to snag one.

Snokone, this is the first I've heard of a circumnavigation route on Whitney. Can you tell me where it is? Thanks!