Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Permits

Hi folks - new to the forum and already found so much helpful information for a first timer! Have a couple minor questions about permits. Our group's one day permit is for June 13...

1) Is it possible to start late on June 12th (e.g. around 8pm?) to give us an early start around sunrise at the chute? I think permits get checked about 5 miles in?

2) What is recommended timing to start for a one day trip? Is 8pm too early of a start?

3) Is it possible to convert a one day permit into a overnight?

4) How prepared should we be to camp overnight in case of emergency for a one day trip?

Thanks so much!

Read Brett Williams' story...

http://www.mountwhitneyforum.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=106198#Post106198

His group was 1st Timers who did it right.

3) No, but I'd bet you can get an overnight if you want one...
4) You should carry enough gear to keep you alive should you get caught out, or have an accident...

The permit is for 12:00am, but the FS usually cuts people slack if they need an earlier start.

You need to know what your pacing is going to be...and as Doug always says...Slower Is Better...so you don't burn yourself out.

Adding in a little more info...
06.13 is nearly a Month Of Melt away...
The Switchbacks will probably be open...with packed snow on some...
The Headwall above Trailside Meadow (below Trail Camp) will probably still have snow on a fairly steep traverse...(but it's usually a "bucket boot track")

Hey there -
I think if you hike overnight you’ll be exhausted and it will be too much time. You want to time it so that you’re hitting the chute or switchbacks at first light. Our goal was to summit by 11 and we arrived at 1030. We left at 2am. Our pace was a bit under 40 mins per mile. Practice your mile time with a weighted pack. The advice we were given was 1 mile per hour. That’s a good and sustainable pace. This means roughly 6hrs to trail camp. I don’t think you want to be arriving at trail camp at 2 or 3 in the am.

I’d suggest leaving closer to 1am. If your group is slower, you could leave at midnight.

Create your schedule and train for it. This was our approach and it allowed us to get up and down. Summit by 10/1030 and you should be in good shape.

We had one guy bring a tarp for shelter and we all brought extra layers, etc.

Train with weight on your back. Eat & drink every single hour, more than think. And go slow.

Good luck!

Thank you super helpful guidance and Brett's story is awesome and so detailed!!! Appreciate it.