Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board How many switchbacks on the Whitney Trail?

Has anybody here counted them?

A switchback is usually thought to be a turn that is close to 180 degrees.

I think there is 9,700. Or maybe only 97. Don't count them but sure know everyone of them.

See you on the trail, or maybe a switchback.

Actually, isn't this a question with real interest?

We all know about the 97 switchbacks. And there's a healthy dose of them from the Trailhead to Lone Pine Lake. (Sub-question -- how many switchbacks are in that section?)

Soooo . . . isn't of general interest to many of us to know how many there are on the whole main trail?

Is it known? I've never run across it . . .

http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/California-Mountains/Mount-Whitney/The-97-Switchbacks-061012/23484995_Dhq67W#!i=1898618738&k=mGzDL7R

Time to become intimate with Google Earth and follow the trail from beginning to end. Got to be 200+?

Well, other than the dreaded 97....

There are 27 or so switchbacks from the Trailhead to Lone Pine Lake...

Plus another 35 or so from LPL to Outpost Camp.

Then another 15 or so from OC to Trail Camp.

Then a couple from Trail Crest to the summit...

Is that what those things are called , huh i just thought they were big berms for fast trekking around on the way down, i guess i will have to re sole my shoes for switchbacking.. Dang..