Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board HELP! Planning Horseshoe To Whitney Portal in 1 week

I was scheduled to hike up the main Whitney Trail for Labor Day weekend, but my plans have changed, and I now have the entire week beforehand off. I'm now debating between the main trail and doing the Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney Portal. I have about 5 days to do it, and was wondering whether the longer trip would be logistically possible. I have about a week to plan it out. I'm in excellent shape, so that's not a concern. My concerns mostly have to do with time lines. If you've done it before, please let me know any information that you think would help me (even if you tell me not to go - I'd rather not start something I can't finish). Also, if anyone else is planning this trip the week of August 25-29, let me know if you wouldn't mind someone tagging along. I know I asked a lot, but any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sorry, I can't help you much. But I can tell you that the ~7 miles from Horseshoe meadows to New Army Pass are pretty easy, from my experience. Not much altitude gain until you get near New Army Pass. This makes for some awesome & easy day hikes exploring the cottonwood lakes area around New Army Pass & Old Army Pass.

I have questions on the same lines - How practical is it to summit whitney via the main trail and return to horseshoe meadows (thru New Army Pass & Crabtree Pass) in 3 days?

I did the same route last week, it took me 4 days to complete. Started around 9:30 am on Monday 8/4, made it up over New Army Pass and camped by Lower Soldier Lake the first night. Second night made it to Crabtree Meadow, the climb over Guyot Pass was rather strenous but brief. Third day, from Crabtree Meadow to the junction of JMT and Trail Crest (camped there overnight, there are rock shelters and camp sites about 60ft before the junction. It was a bit windy but the view of the sunset from 13500 ft was spectacular. Next day, started around 8:30 am, I carried the pack to the junction and dropped it there, hike the last 1.8 miles to the summit. Spent about an hour at the summit then start hiking down, picked up the pack at the junction then continued hiking down the main trail. I hiked the rest of the way out to the portal that night, and boy I was exhausted! I recommend spending another night at Trailcamp or Outpost camp. Outpost camp is a lot nicer than Trail camp. Here is a page that might be useful to you :http://home.earthlink.net/~mwbackpacking/bpnap_to_wp.htm

Matt,

I would definitely do the hike to climb Whitney from the west side. I first climbed Whitney in 1970 (when I was 10 years old) and again in 1995. The 1995 trip, which included my 65 year old father and my brother, started at Horseshoe Meadow and finished at Whitney Portal.

Although my brother and I are in good shape, remember my dad was along, and we still did the hike in 4 days. The first day was long ... we went over Cottonwood Pass and camped near Rock Creek. Day 2 was a nice stroll up the PCT, to Crabtree Meadow and on to the lake below Guitar Lake (I can't remember the name at the moment). On day 3, we slogged up the backside of Whitney to Trail Crest, while enjoying views of Mt. Hitchcock and the Great Western Divide. We also summited Whitney that day. Believe it or not, we did not leave out packs at Trail Crest, but actually hauled out packs all the way to the summit! Looking back, I think we were worried about marmots and humans messing with our stuff (we were greeted with quite a few people when we reached Trail Crest. Previously, we'd seen very few people). My dad was moving quite a bit slower on this third day, and the climb to the summit took a while (plus we got a late start). So we reached the summit late and actually watched the sunset at Trail Crest. We went down the switchbacks to Consultation Lake by flashlight, where we spent the night. On day 4, we hiked to the Portal.

All in all, it was a memorable trip filled with wonderful Sierra sights and the opportunity to see Whitney from the west side. Although my brother and I surely tired out my dad, he also had a great time.

Since you're in excellent shape, you could surely do this trip in 4 days (or less if you were really motoring), or you could take the full 5 days to really soak up the scenery. In short, I highly recommend this trip.

Matt,

Your choice to summit Mt. Whitney from the West side is a great idea! Just took 8 poeple this exact same way July 24-30. You could easily do this trip in 5 days (approx. 42 miles)with the following camp locations:

Day 1- Horsehoe Meadows up over New Army Pass and stopping at either Soldier Lake or Rock Creek Lake (either one is great although they were having bear problems at Soldier so we decided on Rock Creek!)
Day 2- Rock Creek Lake to Crabtree Meadows- this is a tougher day because it is approx. 10.7 miles but it can be done. Make sure you get your water at Lower Rock Creek campground or Guyot Creek BEFORE heading to Crabtree as there is NO water in between!
Day 3- Easy hike to Guitar Lake (4 miles). Stay about 1/2 mile about Guitar Lake. It has water and is more sheltered. Makes the next day to the summit easier (less miles). Great sunsets here as well!
Day 4- Guitar Lake to the summit and out to Outpost Camp. After dropping your pack at Trail junction, it is easier to hike back down to Outpost and camp there after a pretty tough hiking day. That way the next morning is only 3.8 miles out to Whitney Portal and your trip home!
Day 5- Whitney Portal and then home

We did this trip in 7 days just to have a more relaxing journey through the wilderness but I really think it can be done in 5 easily! Here are some of our pics if your are interested. Have a great hike and enjoy the Whitney experience!

Mt. Whitney pictures at this URL:
http://community.webshots.com/user/drhabes

drhabes describes the "standard" route (over Guyot Pass to Crabtree Meadows). There is the alternative through Miter Basin, over Crabtree pass, at which point you can continue to Crabtree Meadow or tackle the infamous climb up to Discovery Pinnacle from Upper Crabtree Lk.

I have done the Miter Basin route and heartily recommend that if you are not afraid of a little easy cross-country travel and route-finding.

Also, I recommend taking the alternate route to New Army Pass along South Fork Creek. It is a less-travelled and more scenic route (IMHO).

The points of interest (in a route-finding sense) are:

1. The South Fork Creek trail junction with the New Army Pass trail. This is about 1 mile out from the parking lot, just beyond the creek crossing. There are (or were last fall, I don't remember from when we were there last month) logs blocking the way here. If one takes that trail, remember that it follows the creek you just crossed so you have to turn shortly after crossing it or you've missed it.

2. Once this trail climbs to the South Fork Lakes, you will reach a junction with the trail to Cirque Lk (to the left; Horseshoe Mdw Lks are to the right). The first time we went straight ahead which works OK for a while but then you end up traversing a bothersome boulder field to join up with the main NAP trail. Last month we went left here and then followed use trails/routes around the south and west sides of the lakes which was much easier.

3. There is a "shortcut" from Lower Soldier Lk to Miter basin that I would recommend if one is going that way (versus the main trail down to Rock Creek then up the trail along Rock Creek). To the west of Lower Soldier Lk is a flat grassy area. Look for a use trail that starts off to the SW a little and switchbacks up the ridge back to the right and then up to the saddle (low spot on the ridge). From there, we traversed pretty much level across easy terrain for quite a ways until Rock Creek climbed to meet us. There, we picked up the obvious use trail on the right side of Rock Crk. We returned by following the Rock Creek trail and that route has it's virtues also: the lower Rock Creek Meadow along that stretch is beautiful.

4. The main trail here seems to be on the other side of the creek up near where it climbs to Sky Blue Lk (and you definitely want to climb that on the left). Both going and coming back we managed to lose the trail. Maybe it is easier at this time of year (we were there in Oct so everything was pretty brown). This was relatively painless in Oct but might be harder (on both you and the fragile meadow) now.

5. Above Sky Blue Lk the route starts out easy enough (just follow the obvious use trail on the NE side of the lake and continue up a little creek). This climbs to a point where it levels off at a set of small tarns. Here, we bore right towards the outlet of the large lake N of Sky Blue Lk. This was a mistake (prompted by the maps in Paul Richins' book). We ended up looking for a way down to the lake (without success) and ended up circling the entire W side (which involved lots of boulder hopping). Far better (as we found on our return) to head to the smaller lake to the W and then make the easy walk across to above the larger lake and the start of the route up to Crabtree Pass.

As to schedule, that depends. Somebody did this as a day hike (!) this summer. Myself, I'd shoot for camping at Long Lake (nice campsite at the upper end) the first day (so the New Army Pass climb is tackled early in the day and to divide it up into more equal-sized pieces). Then Sky Blue Lake, then Guitar Lake, then Trail camp (or Outpost camp), then Whitney Portal (5 days). I'm not sure about the distance from Sky Blue Lake to Guitar Lake, though. Most people would fall somewhere between these extremes.

So that's everything I know. Note that I have no comment on the route beyond Crabtree Pass. That was all the further we got. Despite not reaching Mt Whitney, we had a great trip. Miter Basin is awesome.

Bill Law

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Couple of additions to powergui. 6 days is best--with one extra day before to acclimate (Portal?). Since you are coming out here anyway, leave car, spend nite, and get ride to horseshoe--cost us $75.00 for two of us, so..acclimate..---you are starting at 10,000. Then first nite-long or high lake. Regarding soldier lake- a great campground and there is a big bear box--posted. Its a good place for 2nd night on trail. RE. - crabtree pass-the far side is a mother of a boulder field. Stay on right side-but just over the top, first 1000 feet- 1/4 mile - no fun at all, but skye blue and crabtree lakes are worth the tough going--suggest camping at lower mouth of crabtree lake--then next nite above guitar---next day summit and spend last nite at camp below switchbacks--6th out and a portal burger.---great trip.

The trip sets up for 5 to 6 days because of geographic barriers for most people.

Going via NAP

Day 1...It's Long Lake or up over NAP and down to at least the Siberian Pass Trail, or beyond.

Going via CP...
Day 1...Chicken Spring Lake at 4.5 miles or 12-14.5 to Rock Creek area, there is no water in between.

Day 2...Rock Creek/Guyot Pass, at the end of a 10 mile day the last thing you want to do is climb this pass, plus its 4 miles to water from Guyot Creek

Day 3...Usually to Upper Crabtree Meadow but it can be stretched to Guitar Lake making for a 10 mile day

Day 4...Upper Crabtree to Guitar Lake

Day 5...Summit and out, it's a long day but doable. The last 8.8 are all downhill.

I've read where people have done this in as little as 3 days. 4 or 5 is doable if you are in great shape.

Bill

Did it last year in 4 days, used Cottonwood Pass. Loved it! One should never miss such an opportunity. The beauty of Crabtree meadows alone is worth it!

Matt,
Your trip is definitely doable in 5 days. We did it mid-July in under 20 hours - 14 hours from Cottonwood Lakes trailhead to Whitney summit, 2.75 hours waiting & watching sunrise on top of Whitney and then 3 hours down to the Portal. If you're interested you can check out my report under "Moonlight Magic" posted July 16. If you're comfortable with your flashlight, consider going up from Guitar Lake in the dark and spending sunrise on the summit, it's an awesome experience. Enjoy.

Matt, I've done the hike, and it is logistically easy. There are many variations, as you have seen. I would NOT recommend the route over Crabtree pass and through Miter basin, unless you are COMFORTABLE and EXPERIENCED in steep talus, navigation, and are used to being totally self-sufficient.

Probably the easiest route is over Cottonwood Pass, as the pass is lower. I went to ChickenSpring L the first afternoon, Rock Creek the second nite (all downhill), Guitar Lake the third, Summit and Trail Camp the 4th, and out the 5th. Very straightforward. A variation would be over New Army Pass, although my person preference is for Old Army Pass, 500 feet lower, and clear of snow now.

I have to second Ken' recommendation. I did the trip last year:

Chicken Spring Lake
Rock Creek
Crabtree Meadows
Guitar Lake
Trail Camp
Portal