Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Acrophobia on the main Whitney Trail

I am planning to climb Whitney via the main trail in August 2008. I have experienced acrophobia (the fear of heights) on other Sierra trails such as the half dome trail in Yosemite (near the cables). I have also hiked trails like those in the Grand Canyon (South Kaibab and Bright Angel) without any issues. My questions are: How exposed is the main Whitney trail? Where are the most exposed areas? By looking at the topo I would assume mid way up the switchbacks and the first mile or so past trail crest. I am not sure exactly what to expect so any advice, pictures, stories, etc. would be helpful as I prepare for my trip. Thanks!

I am somewhat of an acrophobe. Many times it is situational and exposure in one location is different than some others.

I did not find the Windows (between Crest and Summit) a problem really and even peeked and took a photo. I do remember one spot on the return back to Trail Crest that did give me and another person I was hiking near some brief pause - just the lay of the land, I'd guess. But it was easy to talk my way through it.

The area on the switchbacks is where they have strung cables - that one is definitely interesting and I probably did cling to the inner wall but, again, was able to do it.

So, if you could talk your way up Half Dome's "pre-step" area, then you should not have many issues with Whitney.

Have fun and don't worry about it too much - it is a TRAIL after all and NOT A CLIMB.

Nothing on the Main trail resembles the "cables section" on the last part of the Half Dome "hike". As Fred mentioned, there is a small section on the trail towards the top of the switchbacks where there is a cable installed where the drop off is fairly steep. This is certainly helpful, especially when icy, but does not have the exposure of the final push up the granite of Half Dome, where one misplaced step may be your last.

Depending on your anxiety, the other side Trail Crest has some moderate exposure, though probably nothing more than what you found on the shoulder of Half Dome.

The "cables" section of the switchbacks are well-protected, so if you just watch the inner wall and ride your outside hand along the cable, you'll be fine. For a photo of that stretch (complete with Oscar-winning over-acting by my son) in July, 2001, with a bunch of leftover snow on the uphill side, take a look at my trip report. You'll see that the downhill side is quite steep but still a slope and that the trail, even just half melted out, was no problem.

The "windows" between Trail Crest and the summit are exposed to a fairly steep talus slope to the west and very steep dropoff to the east. The trail at that point is at least 4' wide with a good 3' of level and smooth sandy/gravelly tread, so watching the trail instead of the view might be called for if looking 2,000' straight down bothers you. Each "window" opening is only 10-20' long (wide?), so the exposed spots are very brief and just a few steps will get you past them and onto trail with steep slopes to either side (one up, one down).

When you get to the summit, proper, you may not want to "hang ten" off the edge of the summit boulders as you'll have the better part of 2,500' of air under your toes, but the view is worth approaching as closely as your exposure tolerance will allow. Take a look at the summit pan in the above-referenced trip report and pan "down" as the pan window faces out to the east (away from the bouldery summit plateau).

No place actually threatening, but if you are spooked by looking down dropoffs, just look the other way...

I am absolutely terrified of heights. I had no problem climbing the Whitney Trail. As a matter of fact, I'm making my second climb in June!

I got stopped cold on Half Dome, but Whitney wasn't bad at all. I was a bit scared on the west side below the main trail, but once I hit the main trail it was all good. Going back down I realized it wasn't bad at all. The windows seem to scare some people, but there is almost no risk of falling. You don't even have to look over the edge. I thought they were kind of cool. Going by the top of the chute with snow on the ground would be scary, but that is not a worry in August.

Here is what I posted on the subject:


Unlike Half Dome, the trail is reasonably flat on the upper trail, and aside from the windows, you have rock to lean against if necessary.

This is messy, but it's easiest for me. I used to have some pictures of the windows on the 'net, organized especially for this question. Then, with the Club Photo meltdown (some will know what I mean), I lost them. Well, I didn't really lose them, because they were still on my computer. I've been uploading things again as the need and my energy admit.

Anyway, I have some shots of the windows in this folder: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockwellb/sets/72157600224444150/

Look at the last dozen or so. In a few, you can see my hiking pole across the trail, to give some scale.

Reason I say it's a mess is because this is my "miscellaneous" picture folder, a private repository for pictures to be posted. I didn't really plan to share the whole folder, just individual pictures here and there. So just ignore the remainder of the folder--it's a jumble.

If I have a chance, I will clean this up soon. Unfortunately, the mountain sirens are calling, and that's a distraction....

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As an aside, we (members of CLMRG) rappeled down each of these windows on a search a number of years ago. I wouldn't recommend it.

Bob,

Thanks for reuploading your photos of the windows. They were missed.

I've seen one person having and acrophobic experience along the MMWT. It was at one of the "windows". I saw a woman slide across the window on her rear end as I was descending. Her parents said she suffered from acrophobia.

The windows and an area between Trailside Meadow and Consultation Lake may cause some problems, the latter when snow or ice is present.

Bob,

Thanks for posting your image link. I had heard about the famous "Coleman tent in box" photo but had not seen it until now. I'm glad the hiker was a good sport about having his pic taken.

BTW, isn't there an even more famous photo with a hiker on the MMWT carrying a suitcase?

Might you be referring to...

One summer, as I was descending the 97 switchbacks in the late afternoon, I passed a guy going up. He was very large: well over six feet tall and probably close to 300 lbs. He was wearing what looked like a heavy wool greatcoat even though the temperature was quite warm, sweating profusely, and his face was very red. He was stopping every couple of minutes or so to rest. I don't know why, but I thought of a German burgermeister. He was carrying a canvas grocery-type bag in each hand that appeared to be very heavy.

I never heard what became of him.

OMG! I saw that guy coming down as I went out on my trek last summer! He was just below Trail Camp and assured me that "it's not too far now!!" I couldn't bring myself to take a pic head-on: he was scary...

Wow... a backpack with handles, where can I buy one?
One year I did see two guys walking up just before Outpost Camp. The first guy had a backpack on his back and another one on his front, the second guy had nothing. The guys were smiling, so I thought he might have lost some bet.

I think this is that view (sure is an awesome view though):

I never viewed this as an area with a pucker factor.

Hi. I have acrophobia too. I'm scared to climb a ladder to get on to my one-story roof! I hiked the main Whitney Trail last year and had very little fear of heights during the trip. What helped me I think is that in the places where there was a long drop-off to one side, I was concentrating on my boots and the rocky trail and just ignored the drop-off. In fact, I climbed Camelback Mountain in Phoenix last month and the steep climb at the top scared me more than Whitney.

Thanks Tim. Yes, that was the view I was thinking about when I originally wrote the post.

I guess the consensus is that the view is not that exciting because there is the rock face on the right side, and people probably look down at the rocks on the trail vice the background as they go through the area.

Nice to see your photos going back up Bob. Just spent a few minutes browsing your Gamblers Peak gallery.. Looked like a fun hike.

Regards,
Chris

I am like a lot of people who have posted their acrophobia. I was fearless as a young man but developed fear of certain types of heights like looking over ledges and high places after I had children.It has gotten progressively worse with age.Flying my airplane never bothered me even at 10,000 feet but looking over a 25 foot ledge would cause terror.
That all being said even though I was worried about the exposure of the main trail to MW, I never once, from Portal to summit,got scared. My buddy did sort of freak out at the cables but I had no problems anywhere. I was really worried beforehand about the exposure on the west side ,especially the windows.They never bothered me at all. I am not sure why I didn't have a few anxious moments but I think the Whitney experience is so awesome that fears disappear.