Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board October 28th Hike --> October 27th Hike

I am planning to show up on 10/27 and just pick-up a walk-in permit for a day-hike on 10/28(Sunday).

I am wondering how many people would be hiking on the same weekend. I am intent on getting to Trail Camp - I will consider getting to Trail Crest based on the conditions at that point. From there, I will consider summiting based on the conditions, etc.

I have summited once before (9/20/05)so I know what is involved and how the ice can slow you down dramatically.

The real question is, since the inyo permit infor page shows 100 day-hikes avail for that day, it appears that nobody will be there besides me:( and I don't even want to think about hiking the mountain knowing that if I slip, there will be nobody comming along to help me cut off my leg stuck between boulders.

If anyone is planning on hiking that weekend, I would love to know about it.

Maybe Doug can offer an estimate based on time of the year and past experience...

We are going up Saturday the 27th and coming down on Sunday, and there will be at least 4 of us. You are more than welcome to join us.

Thanks, Ronnie.
I may take you up on that. I may need to reschedule myself for a Saturday hike, which my kids gave me the thumbs-up on (to miss their event at school).

Either way, I'll be extremely happy to know that I am not alone on the trail.

I hope it is not covered in snow as I get lost easily.

I will keep in touch, thank you!

Hi there,

We had our initial permit reserved several weeks in advance, though had to cancel due to weather (the recent storm). When I decided to do it on the 9th, there were also 100 slots open the day before, but by the next day, 18 dayhike permits were taken, plus some overnight permits. So, you never know until that date the number of people who may be there.

Just bring crampons and poles and warm clothes, by then you may need an ice axe, depending on the conditions.

Good luck to you.

We have a group of 5 going on Friday morning to Trail Camp, and hopefully on to the summit on Saturday. We plan on being off the mountain by Saturday night. I have done Whitney and Langley in the summer/fall but this is my first winter ascent. Just make sure you are warm, its an easy way to ruin a trip, this includes a good bag, tent, clothing. Crampons, trekking poles, possibly ice ax by then.
Hope to see you up there.
Krisztian

Since it is a Sunday trip and the conditions will not be perfect, you will get your permit.

I like your plan...a lot!

In these fall conditions you should be carrying a lot more stuff, clothing especially. It is not unusual for me to carry 3 or 4 hats and 2 or 3 pairs of gloves because the name is staying warm in these conditions and means being dry. This extra weight along with less than optimal trail conditions will slow you down.

If there has not been a big dump, the only area below Trail Camp that is an issue is between Trailside Meadow and Consultation Lake. What snow there is deposits itself on angle against a wall making going pass it a bit hairy. If it dumps, you just go up the slope from Trailside Meadow to the Consultation Lake area, much easier and safer.

Just do not go further than your ability to descend safely and you will do just fine.

Does anyone think that summiting on a "day-hike" is unreasonable?

I summitted on 9/20/05 on a 22-hr trek. 8:AM ~ 6:AM but I had approx. 4 hours of waiting time for a partner that I met along the way and didn't want to leave alone on the icy night.

I plan to start at something like 4:AM on Saturday.
04:00 Portal
09:30 Trail Camp + Lunch
11:00 Cables
13:00 Crest
15:15 Summit
15:30 Return

I think that if I get back to the cables by sun-down I should not have any trouble. The descent should be easy once I get back to trail camp.

Of course, weather and conditions need to permit, but is anyone else doing this in a day-hike?
I only have an REI halfdome 2-person tent which is kinda heavy for just me.

Also, last time I depended heavily on water along the way. Even with my axe I am wondering how much water will be available enroute. I can boil snow if needed but my water filter is "family size" and I won't bring it if there is no water.

Any suggestions?

I would not sweat the water. I have rarely seen heavy ice this time of year. Most sources will either be flowing or available with a little work...lot'sa big rocks breakup the ice near the shorelines.

In May when the only way to the summit was via the Chute because the Switchbacks were clogged with snow, I would have considered a day hike summit for most day hikers to be unreasonable. As long as the trail is relative clear and the day hiker is fit, carrying the proper gear and clothing it is possible.

However, I would not get too upset if I fell short of the summit if I were a day hiker this time of year.

I did a day hike.
Left the portal on 10/27 at 1:00 AM
Pass Oupost camt at 3:00 AM
Pass through Trail Camp 5:00 AM
Summit 10:00 AM
Back to Portal 3:30 PM.

Crampons needed from the cables to crest. Stowed them for the balance of the trip. Ice Axe got no action. Trecking poles were used.

Weather was great, not tooo much wind, not very much sun. Awesome hike, met someone along the way which made the trek that much more pleasurable, Clayton, if you see this, thanks.

I was getting off the summit on Saturday at 0930, we must have crossed paths. What were you wearing? I said hi to everyone as we were walking down. I was in an orange North Face jacket with 2 other people.

I was wearing pretty much all black. Black pants, black jacket, black skullcap, black shades, black facemask at times. I was hiking with the guy that looks like Keannu Reeves.

If you were getting off the summit at 9:30, you must have been in that group doing the switchbacks in the dark. I tried to catch you guys.

Were you wearing orange pants also?

I love the hike up (except for the lack of oxygen) and hate the hike down It seems to take twice the time going down as the thrill is not there.

It was nice running into you guys