Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Advice on day hike after riding bike from badwater

Has anyone here cycled from badwater to the portal and then completed the day hike on the main trail? As part of the whitney classic or self supported? Any advice on latest start times for the hike? We are planning to ride through the night and hopefully will arrive at the portal by 5am or so. Is 8am too late to start the hike? This will be in oct. Thanks!

I know that some people have summited after finishing the Whitney Classic. I have a friend who has done the Whitney Classic, but he says that to continue on to the summit would be insane.

If you start at 8AM in October, plan on a significant part of your descent being in the dark. And it will be icy on the cable section on the switchbacks.

My first successful summit on Whitney was in October. We camped at Outpost, and the waterfall there was frozen.

Thanks. Any info is helpful.

I did a Sea-To-Summit a few years ago. ( http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum/...=true#Post24502 )

I left Marina Del Rey and rode to Mojave on Day 1 (about 100 miles), Mojave to about Lone Pine Campground on Day 2 (about 125 miles) (had nothing left in the legs, so I walked up from there to the Portal) and then got up and climbed Whitney via the Main Trail on Day 3. I think it took me about 14 hours for what would normally be a 10 hour round trip.

Needless to say, my legs were fried.

I did this in October also. The days are short, so if you want to finish up before dark (I hate starting and ending a day in the dark.) I'd start up much earlier than 8:00am.

BTW, this is something that I've always wanted to do. Good Luck!