Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Camp at Trail Crest? (not Trail Camp)

I've read a couple of posts about making an overnight camp at Trail Crest (not Trail Camp). Has does one actually do this? The one time I made the hike and went through the Trail Crest, it didn't seem to me that there was room for any kind of a tent. I also didn't see any area that looked flat enough to lie down comfortably. What do you do, curl up in your -50 degree bag among the rocks?

Hi About 300' down the John Muir Trail is the trail crest camping area, very flat and below the cerst so less wind , no water. Thanks Doug

There are some sites at Lower Trail Crest, where the JMT starts to descend from the MMWT. You access them from this section of trail. They are easy to miss if you aren't looking for them.

Bill

Camping near trail crest or the summit can be very rewarding. It will be cold and breazy, even in the summer.

Found in this old post are pictures of the camp spots spoken of

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001700

The other issue is getting access to water up near trail crest.

This was recently discussed about water up at trail crest.

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002784

I'll attest to the cold. I have been at Lower Trail Crest in the predawn in August and September when the temperature was approaching single digits and the breeze was rather stiff.

I've camped up there(trail crest) in early summer. It was particularly cold, but almost no wind. It seemed 10 or 20 degrees colder than trail camp.

But for all that, you have a nice head-start to the summit.