Taking off Saturday for my first hike up Whitney. Never been in this area and just looking for suggestions on what is the best route starting from Horseshoe meadows. Will I have trouble getting permits - it is my understanding I won't need the traditional Whitney pass coming from the backside. I have 5-7 days so time and distance not a problem. I was planning fishing for a couple days in Cottonwood lakes before heading to Whitney so was thinking of new army pass, or possibly old army pass. Also good Golden trout or any trout input appreciated.
My other dillema is this will be a solo and I have to park at the portal and get back to Horseshoe trailhead without my truck. Figured I'd bring my bike and just ride down from the portal to the Cottonwood lakes junction and just stash my bike and hitch a ride to the trailhead. Does that sound doable?
I afraid you are mistaken about the permits .. You WILL need a permit to enter the Whitney Zone. Call the Mt. Whitney Ranger Station in Lone Pine for verification: (760) 876-6200 main ph. (760) 873-2483 permit reservation ph.
re: route .. with that much time, try New Army Pass - Rock Creek - Guyot Pass - Crabtree Meadows - Guitar Lake - Mt. Whitney - Whitney Portal. It's a beautiful hike ...
I would suggest you look into a shuttle so that you can leave your car/truck at the Portal. You'll be quite happy to see it when you get done with your trip. If you search on the word "shuttle" you will find many options on this board.
I just finished the hike that Audiograce described. (July 24-30) It is a beautiful hike (42 miles) and the fishing was superb! (16 fish caught all at Rock Creek Lake with a Panther Martin (black with yellow spots) spinner and a Super Duper- gold). They were all golden browns- small (8-10 inches...we let them all go) but were great fun to catch! Make sure you have plenty of water before heading to Crabtree Meadows as there is NO water after Guyot Creek! Have a great hike and do make sure you have shuttled your car before getting to Whitney Portal. It's just easier!
Thanks for the tips. So I guess I need what is called a Whitney exit permit? I'll try calling for more info. So anyone know how difficult it would be to get wilderness permits for a sunday the 10th start out of Horsehoe. I plan on getting up there Saturday to get all my permits and hit the trail early Sunday and come out at the portal on Friday or Saturday. Man all this planning for backpacking I'm not used to. I'm an old backpacker and it used to be so easy.
I'm not scary looking and if I can get all my permits Saturday I think I'll still try to hitch a ride from the portal to Horseshoe. If you see an old guy - well not that old 44 - on Saturday afternoon I'd be forever greatful for a ride. If you want to make some gas money I'd even pay you to get me to horseshoe but I'd be happy just to get back to the junction.
Sheesh - talk about lack of planning - I don't even know where the ranger station is to get the permits. Help. Really I'm at home in the wilderness - it's just getting there that seems to be getting harder.
By the way I do like the quota system even though it's a pain. I did Shasta last summer and they have no quota and boy what a zoo that is. Still it is a must do like Whitney. When me and some buddies first talked about Whitney in high school you didn't even need a permit and now 25 years later and yet again everyone bailed out at the last minute so I decided to just go for it and do it solo. A couple good books and a fishing pole is all the company I will need. Oh yeah and some permit thingies too!
There is a 40% holdback for permits. If you are leaving Sunday just get up to Lone Pine as early as you can Saturday and pick up your permits then.
The last time I talked to a ranger the exit permits, listed as Trail Crest Trail in the Inyo's Permit Availablity Page, the exit permits had a holdback, too.
Just checked the USFS web site for Inyo, and all dates are full for Aug, for a exit permit except 1,2,3,4,6,13,14,18,30,31. I would get up there a day early and try and get the permit. This web site was last updated on 7-27-03.
An exit permit probably won't be a problem. Last year I did the Horseshoe Meadow thing. Got to Lone Pine to get my permit the day before, only to discover that my permit had accidently been given for 2 weeks before! They still had exit permits so I could still do my hike. I did it by Cottonwood Pass rather than New Army. It was lovely! The PCT comes right to the pass, and you simply stick to it until you come to Crabtree. And yes, no water between Guyot Creek & Crabtree. I camped by Guyot Creek rather than Rock Creek so I wouldn't have that big up to do 1st thing in the morning, and it was an excellent choice.
I'll just show up Saturday and see what happens. Worst case is I won't be able to climb Whitney and I'll have to do some other weeklong trip without the hoardes of Whitney. It's all good!
Also,do not forget to carry a bear can . If you stop at trail camp,which you will, at least one member must have a can--or get cited. Even though it is your last day and you do not need them for the rest of the trip, you still need one if camping in the whitney zone. Trail camp is in the zone so you do/ must have one.
