Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Solo Day Hike - June 8th

Hello All!

I received a lottery for June 8th 2025 for a day permit. I am planning to hit the trail fairly early in the am to allow for enough time to take on the day. I have previous hiking experience and am self sufficient, however, have never really began a hike like this for so long through the dark prior to sun up. I love to hike but don’t have a community to go with hence the solo title.

My question, is anyone going that would be okay with me sorta following along with your group the first part the hike until the sun starts to creep up? If you are faster hikers no need to wait up or anything, it would just be to get going to have a group with.

Please send me a message or respond if so!

Thanks

Hey spent the best summer of my life working on a farm about an hour from Wichita!

On the trail early morning you will be in a line of hikers June 8 is a Sunday and as the snow clears off the upper part of the mountain we will have more hikers . Many early mornings you will see hikers coming down that started the day before. ( We hear all the time I am the last one on the trail) the Whitney trail is the exit for other major trails so very rare to not see people on the trail.

The first 3 1/2 miles of the trail is very wide and open , the trail thread is a mixture of granite and sand so a very light color , sunrise / first light around 5AM , you will in in the light somewhere at the end of this first section . I caution going very early and walking into the cold at 12,000' with the normal light breeze that comes with dawn.
If you can come a few days before and spend some time , say at Horseshoe Meadow 10,000' or Bristlecone area east of Big Pine and do the short hike at 11,000' Patriarch Grove will help you sense the higher elevation you will be hiking in.

Check out the Whitney Trailhead during the day and you may find others in the area starting the hike you can start with.


A good rule for a day hike is hold your pace close to 1 mile an hour sounds crazy slow but will pay off on the down hike! Summit Mount Sunflower on your way out , I was born about 15 miles from the base of that mountain.

Listen to Doug Sr.! Doug knows

First 3 miles up to Lone pine lake is well-maintained, wide trail. By the time you get there the Sun will start illuminating the sky, if not rising.

Alone, in the dark, you may get nervous at the start, but will very quickly get comfortable. During my solo adventures, it transitions from initial nervousness to the ultimate adventure energy.

Like Doug said, you will cross paths with people going up and down. Some may pass you and you may pass some.

Focus more on being prepared physically(acclimatization, fitness), mentally(goals, toughness, environmental knowledge, personal non-negotiables[if/when to turn around]), and with your resources(food, water filter, gear, etc.)

Have fun!