Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney Climb

I am 48, Im thinking of climbing Whitney at the end of March or first part of April. This will be my first climb. I will be going with a guide service I beleive. The question I have Is how do you know you are in good enough shape to make this climb? I am taking a mountaineering class on March 27th and will be climbing after that I think. I know the summer months are better to climb but I want to do it when there is more snow. One other question how heavy of a back pack do you need to train with?

Most likely you will be carrying a pack in the 50 pound range for your trip. However, you do not need a carry something that heavy for training purposes.

If you haven't been or will not be to 14,000' before this trip, I would suggest you work on increasing your aerobic capacity. It will aid you working your way to Iceberg Lake.

If you are a SoCal, I would look at ridges other high angle places to train, like Icehouse Saddle to Timber Mtn. via the ridgeline or the Register Route off the Ski Hut Trail. The latter would be similar in angle to lower portion of North Fork.

In So Cal, San Gorgonio is also a GREAT training hike. There are several routes, long and gradual and short and steep all that take you to 11,499'. Lots of the white stuff there right now. http://sgwa.org/trails2.htm
Ron

I think we need to know a little more about your current fitness level to give useful advice. That said, I wouldn't worry too much about training with a pack on. It's hard on your knees, and doesn't add much to your training. Long day hikes with lots of gain and just a day pack will do a lot for you. It would probably be worth carrying a more or less full pack pack 2-3 times shortly before your planned adventure just to break your body into it. I find that the first day with a big pack on I get a bit sore in the shoulders and around the hips. Starting out with some shorter duration hikes can alleviate that.

Last year I was in the best shape of my life and nausea kept me from summiting. Just as important if not more important than proper training on Whitney is get acclimatized. Everyone is different, I tend to do better when I spend two nights at 10K. I just started a great thread on www.sgwa.org about the steepest trails in so cal to train on. Check it out, and be safe.

Thanks for responding everyone. I live in riversie. If anyone is intrested in any day hikes or longer during the week or weekends let me know. I would also be intrested in any northern hikes, If you don't mind taking a novice.
Thanks again.

Same as you but I am 46, made it up (barely) last August on an overnight. I mtb'd all summer to get my lung capacity up & did some short day hikes the month before with no pack. It was the hardest physical thing I've ever done although it doesn't seem like it now as I sit here on the couch. The altitude made me feel sick, but my feet! Shoes that were normally fine hurt coming down. Have good shoes. My pack was 33#.

As illustrated in Wilaby's response, nothing replaces work in the high mountains for a couple of reasons. 1.) You find out if you are going to get sick 2.) The experience and knowledge you acquire about what it takes to hike at and to these elevations.

My circumstances were similar the first time I came to MMWT. Worked my rear end off all summer, barely made it and did not go really high before going to Whitney Portal.

More that is between the ears about hiking in these environs, the better chance you will have to succeed.