Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mountains Comparable To Mt Whitney

Hi all,

I hiked Mt. Whitney last summer and thought it was amazing with all the beautiful lakes and views.

I am heading out to the sierra's again next week on a last minute trip and I plan on hiking a new mountain this year.

Can anyone recommend a mountain in the sierra's that is yet another beautiful hike - like Whitney. I am looking to do a day hike and would love to see waterfalls or lakes, an amazing summit view, and have the hike be easy as far as a well beaten path and also minimal or no exposure. I will be bringing someone who has never hiked before.

Both of us are in really good shape.

Thanks so much for your imput!

A number of previous posts talk about scenic hikes between Mammoth Lakes and Whitney. As for something close to Whitney, I like the trail from Onion Valley up to Kearsarge Pass as there are several lakes along the way plus a view of the back side at the pass. It is not as strenuous as the Whitney Trail.

Fred

Red Slate Mountain (13,163') is an easy, long hike, like Whitney. Start at the McGee Creek Trailhead off 395 just north of Crowley Lake. You'll cross a few streams, and pass by some nice lakes before ascending to McGee Pass. Take the good use trail up to the top, which gets steep and rocky before reaching the summit. The views are pretty good. It's about 16 miles and 5,000' gain round trip.

I also like Mt. Morgan (13,748') out of the Rock Creek area. Use the Francis Lake trail to hike on good trail to Francis Lake, then head along the ridge west of the lake to find a fairly good sandy use trail to the top. I have a special affection for the views since they offer good photo ops of many routes I have done up the other fine peaks in the area.

I'd like to do these peaks, again, for my 3X on both, each as a day climb.

Trails or easy use trails are scarce to the tops of High Sierra peaks, and Whitney has one since it's the highest. You have to go all the way to the Northern Sierra before you start getting trails built to the tops, generally. Let me know of what area you'd like to hike--I've done most of the peaks more easily accessible from trailheads along 395.

My all time favorite place to hike from is the North Lake trailhead which is about 14 miles east of Bishop up Highway 168(?). At about 9200' the trailhead is one of the highest around. There are two moderately sloped hikes from North Lake, both are in the 6-10 mile range.
The first hike goes up the Piute Pass trail to 11,200' at the pass, along the way you pass three high alpine lakes and are rewarded with wondeful scenery. Once at the summit you are looking down into Humphrey's Basin where a ton of hiking options are available.You can laze at Summit Lake which is directly below the pass or, from the pass heading north you will find a land of many small alpine lakes as well as fabulous views of Mt. Humphrey.

The other hiking option from North Lake is to take the Lamarck Lakes trail. The trail will take you to the two lakes after just three miles. From here you have the option of following a trail cross country to Lamarck Col at about 12000'. Once at the Col you will be looking down into the Darwin Bench and you will see glimpses of the peaks that reside in the wonderful Evolution Basin.
Anyway, these are two of my favorites. Good Luck.

I ended a great time in the Sierras with an ascent of Bear Creek Spire. While the climb was great, the aproach to the base was just as wonderful. The trail is the Mosquito Flats trail which begins at the end of Rock Creek rd. Get on 395 and go about half an hour north of Bishop and take the Tom's Place exit. Take Rock Creek rd. and go on it till it ends...about 9 miles, to the trailhead parking lot. The trail is dotted with many lakes, streams, meadows, and is flanked on each side by a wall of mountains. The place is absolutely paradise. By the way, Bear Creek Spire -the northeast arete is rated class 4 and 5, and many locals and guidebooks actually rate the route 5.6. A great climb, but the trail leading to is is just as wonderful.

-F

The multitude of wonderful hikes in the Sierras is on of the best things about them. I did South Lake to North Lake with a side trip to Lamarck Pass last summer, similar to what Sierra Stryder mentions. That's a lovely route, and quite well travelled. In July I went over Kearsarge to Rae Lakes and up into Sixty Lakes basin. Sixty Lakes basin was gorgeous, and we saw few people. We didn't bag any peaks, but we did make a side trip over the lovely pass between Sixty Lakes Basin and Granite Basin.

It seemed like there were fewer people in Sixty Lakes Basin than on the North Lake-Lamarck-South Lake loop, but both routes share mileage with the John Muir Trail, and thus are heavily travelled.

Wherever you go, have a good hike.

Ed makes a good suggestion about hiking in the Little Lakes Valley. The trail head is the highest in the Sierra at 10,200' and offers quick and easy access to a number of straight forward climbs. My suggestion would be to do Mt. Dade, which is a great climb with even better views. The easy 3 mile hike to the base of the Hourglass is enjoyable, the hike up through the Hourglass is fun and the ridge traverse to the top of Mt.Dade is great. Definately consider this climb.

While indeed the Little Lakes Valley, a.k.a. to some as Rock Creek, is gorgeous, the peaks there are pretty tough for hikers. Bear Creek Spire will defeat all but avid peak climbers. The easy route is class 3-4 (I used a rope, mainly for psychological reasons--I never fall, but the consequences of a slip at the wrong time is sickening). You have to know exactly where to go, too.

Better is Mt. Starr (12,870'), with a use trail in the sand/scree from Mono Pass. The last few hundred feet requires some Class 2 rock scrambling, which with a partner, is safe enough. The peak is on the right (south). You'll probably see more granite about you than from Whitney.

Mt. Dade is a easy climb for the experienced, but few hikers will like the steep, loose scree in the Hourglass Couloir. Watch out for Abbot and Mills--they can be killers, with substantial class 3 and rockfall.

Around Whitney, I found Mt. Muah (11, 016') to be a pleasant, shorter day. Take the PCT south from the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead area (you'll need a good map, since trails go everywhere). After a pass, or dip or two, head cross-country for the summit. It took me a good four hours, solo. Hundreds of wonderful snags along the PCT, as beautiful as the bristlecones. View's not much, though.

Mt. Lamarck (13,417') is a short scramble from Lamarck Col. A good trail goes up to the Col, here, if you can find it. Not on the maps. I'd like to day climb it, for my 2X, sometime.

Hey, Windchaser, get a good book like Secor's High Sierra.... Lots of info to check out. Or maybe just a High Sierra hikes book. You don't have to climb a peak to have a good time, and trails are safer, user-friendlier, with other hikers to meet.

If you get into peak climbing, which most consider obsessive, there is real danger, and also the scorn and contempt real rock climbers will have for you. Your chances of living out your days in a mental hospital are much greater, since this is a sport for fools or fanatics. Even the Sierra Club doesn't support this, anymore!

A couple of weeks ago, we did White Mtn. and Mt. Langley (over Old Army Pass). Both have great views. There is not a trail to the top of Langley -- or maybe one can say there are many. It is hikeable, but you do have to do a little thinking about your route after the pass. White Mtn. is not in the Sierra, of course, but it has a fantastic view of the Sierra. It's a straightforward hike along a jeep road with modest elevation gain. As for beauty -- it's in the eye of the beholder.

Have to add <a href="http://www.mritter.org">Mt. Ritter</a> to the list. It's about 8 miles from Agnew Meadows up to Ediza Lake, past Shadow Lake. If you take the easy route up to the summit, you'll need ice axe and crampons, but the rest of the climb is straightforward Class 2 scrambling. From the summit, you can look northwest and see the back side of Half Dome, or look northeast to Mono Lake and east to Montgomery Peak and Boundary Peak (sub-summit that is the Nevada state highpoint) or look south over the whole expanse of the Sierra.

Plus, drive down the road from Agnew Meadows to Devil's Postpile (columnar basalt formation) and any of several waterfalls up other trails.

Plenty of places to stay in Mammoth Lakes for your pre-and-post-hike nights, lots of good restaurants to refuel after the hike, too!

I would recommend against Mt. Ritter. Windchaser77 wants an easy hike this week on a well-beaten path, with minimal or no exposure. His partner has never hiked before.

I've climbed Mt. Ritter several times from Ediza Lake. In late spring or early summer, it is a fine ice ax and crampon climb, but you'd better know how to use them. This time of year, when the snow in the upper part of the chute has melted, the terrain is extremely loose and unpleasant. Especially for someone who has never hiked before, I would say also that it is dangerous.

With the parameters Windchaser77 has put forth, I think Mt. Langley is the best of the other suggestions.

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All this is moot now because Windchaser77 has already gone on his trip, if not come back from it.

I'd also agree with Mt. Langley. At least on the east side, it is not easy to come up with a list of peaks that meet the qualifications.

I would also suggest that acclimatization is a potential issue for your friend, especially on a mountain as tall as Langley. You might want to spend a nite at the Horseshoe Meadow campground, even do a day hike to climb Trail Peak (although not a trail up the last 1/2 mile, so easy scrambling, I'd almost call it class 1, and you cannot get lost), the day before Langley.

G'luck!

It's not nearly as high at 10,320, but Kaiser Peak's (near Huntington Lake) views are as outstanding with Matterhorn, Dana, Ritter, Banner, Mammoth, Evolution Valley Peaks, and many more in the full circle view, plus lakes. Do your descent down to j/e/w/e/l Lake. It is an aptly named infinity pool that is the most beautiful place on earth. Sit on the bank and try to convince yourself you are not in paradise. It's a great day hike. Take the direct route up - and then down by j/e/w/e/l Lake, George Lake, the Twin Lakes, and continue to loop back to your starting point.

It's not in the Sierra, but if you want a great prep hike for Whitney (and are willing to take a road trip) I suggest Mt. Timpanogos in Utah's Wasatch range. The timpooneke trail (one of two on the mountain) is like a miniature version of the Whitney hike, with many of the same characteristics. Round trip is about 15 miles with 4500 feet elevation gain; the summit is 11750 feet. Less intense to be sure, but still a great training hike - and a wonderful mountain in its own right.

YOSEMITE!!!
-Clouds Rest with a beautiful view of the valley...no crowds. about 20 miles
-Waterwheel Falls in Tuolume Meadows. about 15 miles.
-Glacier Point to Panoramic Train.
All trails in Yosemite one can add as many extra miles on as they wish.
My hiking buddy and I tend to always hike in Yosemite.(Also seen views in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Colorado) We finally went up Mt Whitney and we know Yosemite spoiled our eyes. There was nothing in Mt Whitney that made us say wow. =(

Just to give a different view on this topic, i have to add Mt. Washington, NH.

Maybe i am just partial, but this was the first mountain i ever hiked, and man 'o man let me tell you what an experience!!!

It doesn't have the big mileage or altitude attached to it, but it is a totally different type of terrain to hike on. It is really tough.

It may only(!) be 6,288 ft., but it is just as physically demanding as Whitney, minus the effects of altitude, so in that sense it is easier.

The trails are much more rugged than Whitney, not so much a trail but stone to stone stepping. The Ammonoosuc Ravine trail is my favourite, down via the ***ell trail, both humble me.

I have been fortunate enough to make it up Whitney in a day, 2 out of 5 tries (for weather reasons), The experience has enriched me, and the beauty astounded me both in the middle of the night under a full moon asent, and during the day decent.

Alas, Mt. Washington is my mentor, and will forever be my physical test of stamina and strength.

I lived in New York State for 20+ years and did a fair amount of hiking in the region, including the Whites in NH. I have a lot of respect for Eastern hiking. There's a lot of up and down... and up and down and... The trails are often very rugged. They tend to be steep with less switchbacking than our West. The weather can change a lot very suddenly. It can be very cold or oppressively hot. Etc. Mt. Washington, in particular, can live up to its reputation for having the most changeable weather in the USA.

That said, I recall hiking up Mt. Washington from the cog railway parking lot on a whim and it was just a nice, honest day hike. Many of the people I hiked with that day, all of whom enjoyed the hike, could not have done Whitney in a day. We did Mt. Washington in a few hours. That trail, whose name I have forgotten, is nowhere near Whitney class. I am not arguing that there are no routes in the White Mts. that are as challenging as, say, the Main Whitney Trail. Only that one can hike up Mt. Washington by at least one route with relative ease. Of course, one can also drive to the top -- another difference from Whitney.

Good retort,

But I must ask what is this "Whitney Class" that you speak of?

Granted the trails in Mt. Wasington can maybe be completed in , say 7 - 8 hours by my estimates, which are the summit on Whitney on a great day.... the trail you must admit is of an easy grade, vis a vis the switchbacks.

Whitney has the altitude that makes it stand alone. The main trail is not technical at all, it is an endurance test. What I personally find as a major difference between the 2 is the terrain one must endure during the hike, and in my humble opinion, Washington is tougher in that category.

The main Whitney trail is pretty average in terms of grade. It's a pretty steady 550 ft/mile, which is not very tough in iteslf. The difficulties that people have on the hike come from the the altitude (which you mentioned), the 6000' elevation gain, and the 22 mile distance. The latter two are well beyond average, although hardly extreme. I agree that the terrain around Mt. Washington is generally a lot tougher than the Whitney main trail.

Regarding the "Whitney class" remark, I was typing too fast after a long day. I basically meant that I thought the overall efforts required for the main Whitney trail and the particular Mt. Washington trail to which I referred were in two different classes. That was just my subjective opinion.

By the way, I wasn't intending a retort. When I lived in the east, I took various California friends on hikes that instilled a certain respect that was previously lacking. Which is what happened to me when I was new there. New York/New England hiking is awesome!