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Getting to the Top at Mount Whitney
798 N Main StBishop, CA 93514-2428 Phone: (760) 873-2500About
Go for the summit on a 2-day ascent--but get a permit first. Taking on the challenge of climbing 14,496-foot Mount Whitney , the tallest mountain in the "lower 48," is certainly a commendable goal--but not one that should be seen as physically demanding as conqueriing Everest. Though the hike itself is certainly arduous, with roughly 11 miles of climbing from Whitney Portal ending with the well-documented (and cursed) nearly 100 switchbacks that lead to the crest, Whitney remains one of the most "bagged" peaks in the U.S. Climbing Whitney--and making it to the summit--takes advance planning. First, you'll need to submit your name to the Inyo National Forest Service's annual lottery system, and see if and when you can climb. Most climbers head up when snows have mostly melted (usually late summer) through fall, and like to break it into two trips, with an overnight stay to acclimate to the thinner air at Consultation Lake. Climbers then leave most of their gear at the campsite to summit Whitney early on the second day, then hike down, load up their packs and hike out. If that sounds good to you, it means you'll need to carry food and camping gear, including water filtration; check with outfitters in Bishop or Lone Pine if you're not sure what you need, though you may need to rent bear- and marmot-proof food containers before you leave home--they tend to get rented out in summer. You don't need specialized climbing gear, but you should be a seasoned hiker who knows what to wear and how to backpack. Tip: Want a simpler option You can make the 3-mile hike up to lovely Lone Pine Lake without a permit. It's a perfect spot to stare up at Whitney, and across to the broad desert spreading to the east.
