Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Treking Pole Rental

Hi,

I'll be up in Lone Pine with a group of 30 for a day hike up Whitney. I too have had the same 50/50 feedback on treking poles. So, I rented a set for a big hike yesterday and I'm totally sold on them.

Is there anywhere to rent poles in Lone Pine or am I better off looking in Mammoth?

Thanks for your help.
~k

Thanks for the response. I took your comment as a suggestion to search the topic on earlier posts. From from what I could see, the portal store only sells treking poles. I'll pass this on to the rest of our group.

~k

There are several sporting goods stores in Lone Pine and I know for sure that at least one of them rents poles. It's one of the first ones as you enter Lone Pine from the south on 395. I wound up buying a pair even though I could have rented them there for $3 a day. They had plenty to rent when I was there in July.

Lone Pine Sporting Goods (East side of 395) rents good poles for about $2.00 per day. It's a great little store that has lots of great last minute supplies. Also, Sports Chalet, A-16, and others rent poles.
Good Luck,
...tg...

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll pass this on to the crew. Aug 12th is our date. I can't wait!

you may want to see if you could demo a pair. I did at the Whitney Portal Store and all I had to leave was a credit card, you may want to call and see if they still do that. Just another way to try out a pair of poles.

I hiked for years without using poles, then a friend turned me onto them and now I won't go without them.

My last time up Whitney (end of May) I bought a pair at the Whitney Portal Store and can report they were of great quality and cost less than 40 bucks for the pair. I leave tomorrow to go again and will use the same pair.

Truth is, I don't know why someone would say don't bother with poles, unless if that person didn't know how to use them, and therefore got no benefit. If you just swing them around like little sticks you're not using them right. They want to help push you up the mountain and control you while descending, taking the pressure off your legs (who speaks for the knees?). Plus, they will help your balance as you exert in the high altitude.

Two thumbs up for trekking poles from AdiosRich!

Those plastic water bags with the tube that comes out like a flexible, three foot straw is another thing I won't do without. If it is easier to drink you will drink more, and if you drink more you will be a happier hiker.

Two thumbs up for those plastic water bags with the long straw thing from AdiosRich!