Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board first time day hiker for Mt. Whitney main trail

My husband and I are contemplating a day hike Mt. Whitney main trail on Aug 24. Is there any danger of geting lost on the trail if we start the hike at say 2AM?

On August 24th, daylight is about 5:36 am.

That means you will be on the trail in the dark for about 3 1/2 hours. That could get up to about 11500 feet or so in the dark, somewhere between trailside meadows and trail camp.

The trail is fairly big and wide and easy to follow. Last year my flashlight went out just after I started. I did most of the trail up to Lone Pine lake in the dark, just following a hiker 20 feet ahead of me.

It turns out others could be on the trail also. Most start between 3 & 4 am on their day hikes up the Mount Whitney trail, so if you don't go real fast others you will see others from time to time..

You don't need a permit to go from the beginning of the trail to Lone Pine lake, 2.8 miles from the Portal. I would strongly recommend you and your husband do Lone Pine Lake the day prior to your hike to familiarize yourself with the first 3 miles of trail. There will be other people around with their headlamps and it would be very hard to get lost. The trail is very well marked, well worn and wide.

The trail is easy to follow most of the time -- but it is possible to lose track of the trail and get lost.

Two years ago our group came across a solo hiker who made a wrong turn in the dark and wound up going over a ledge. He was pretty banged up and bloodied, but still made it to the summit somehow.

Take a good flashlight.

The trail is real easy to follow but sit down with you maps and go over them thoroughly. You'll be amazed how well you will know the trail if you do this little bit of work.

Everyone has said take a good flashlight. Personally, I like both my hands free, so I'd suggest a go headlight with fresh batteries and fresh spares.

If you leave at 2 you'll have about 3 hours in the dark, depending on the moon, which will probabably put in the area above Mirror Lake. This is the only area you can get lost in, this is my opinion, because you are above the tree line and the trail is ill defined. Once you near Trailside Meadow and the expanse narrows you'll be ok.

Good luck,

Bill

There is the mountaineer route turn off that got my group our first time up in the dark. For some reason we veered right at a creek crossing, instead of actually crossing the creek. Just be aware of that. The trail is fairly smooth and a nice hike to Outpost camp - if you even have to consider using your hands to get you up in places, you're on the wrong trail.

The portion of the trail from the Portal to Mirror Lake (2 to 2 1/2 hours uphill for most day hikers) is in the forest and is easy to follow. There are several stream crossings in this section, but they are all spanned by good logs and step stones and the crossings are obvious.

From Mirror Lake to Trail Camp, the trail is on granite and is well boundaried by rock most of the way, but there are some fuzzier points where you can expect to stop and ponder for a moment if you're coming up in the dark. If you wander off trail in this section you will probably realize that before you go very far, so if that happens just retrace until you see the trail clearly defined again.

Thanks for all the information.

Is there bridges over North Fork Lone Pine Creek and Lone Pine Creek on the main trail? Or they are all spanned by good logs and step stones.

There are no bridges, other than the flattened logs which span the crossings. These are more than sufficient though.

I'll add my 2 bits about hand held flashlights:
LEAVE THEM AT HOME and use a headlamp. They are really inexpensive and super wasy to use. My buddy and I got all the way to trail camp in the dark last summer w/ no problem.

Finally, you will more than likely have company for some or all of the journey, which greatly reduces the chances of your getting off track.

Good luck .. have fun!

Is it required to take bear canister for day hiker on the main trail?

No.

Candace,

since we don't need permit to hike to Lone Pine Lake, can a person with day hike permit camp in Lone Pine Lake on previous night and start from LPL on the permit date? Is there any rule against camping at LPL?

FYI, I just did a day hike and you can read my insight at:

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002276

I have not backpacked on the trail, but I have never heard of anybody staying at Lone Pine Lake nor do I think that is legal. I have heard of people staying at Consultation Lake instead of Trail Camp but then they are practically next to one another.

I personally prefer day hikes since I have less gear to carry. Yes it has its tough moments starting at the 97 switchbacks, but that is where determination and teamwork pay off. Don't try to compromise the experience.

I am doing a (night and) day hike August 4th. Two years ago we overnighted, staying at Trail Camp. Humping a pack up to TC was not very much fun, so this time I'm doing it as a day hike. I want to be at Trail Crest by sunrise, so I plan to start about 11 pm on the 3rd. I choose the date to give me good moonlight for much of the way. Here is a link to that site: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html
Also, if you want to change your date, here is a link to the permit availablity page: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html
Hiking poles are very helpful, and as others have said, spend the 20 or 30 bucks for a headlamp. Enjoy your hike!
Lynn Holland