Mt. Whitney

Let’s acclimate… If you are hiking in the summer months it is advised that you start early. Storms arrive in the afternoon so we were told to summit by noon. We started at 2:00 AM, yup 2:00 AM. This means the first several hours of our hike was in the dark, which I dig because I am supersonic in the dark… except my superpowers do not combat altitude sickness and I moved too quick and paid for it later… so don’t make that mistake. Long story short acclamation is key for newbies and for us it looked like this:

7/18: arrived at portal (8360’) in the evening, set up camp and went to sleep.

7/19: hike 2.5 miles to Lonepine Lake (9850’). Hang out here, have lunch and get your mind blown by the amazingness of mother nature. This also marks the entrance to the “Whitney Zone” which means you are now familiar with the first leg of your hike.

7/20: packed up, drove down to Lonepine (3727’), checked into the Dow Villa, took a hot shower, ate a good meal and went to sleep… we’re waking up at midnight!

1:46 AM | Altitude: 8360' (Whitney Portal Trailhead) | Mile: 0

3:17 AM | Altitude: 9850' (Lonepine Lake) | Mile: 2.5

5:17 AM | Altitude: n/a | Mile: n/a

5:40 AM | Altitude: 12,000' (Trail Camp) | Mile: 6.0

5:42 AM | Altitude: 12,000' (Trail Camp) | Mile: 6.0

6:41AM | Altitude: n/a (98 switchbacks) | Mile: n/a

6:42 AM | Altitude: n/a (98 switchbacks) | Mile: n/a

7:04 AM | Altitude: n/a (98 switchbacks) | Mile: n/a

7:13 AM | Altitude: n/a (98 switchbacks) | Mile: n/a

7:32 AM | Altitude: n/a (98 switchbacks) | Mile: n/a

7:48am | altitude: 13,777' (Trail Crest) | mile: 8.2

7:48 AM | Altitude: 13,480' (JMT) | Mile: 8.7

7:51 AM | Altitude: 13,480’ (JMT) | Mile: 8.7

8:04 AM | Altitude: 13,753' (Discovery Pinnacle) | Mile: n/a