Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 3XSummit @ 61-Mt.Whitney Keeps You Young

I finally made another summit after a many year drought on Wednesday. The weather was terrific and I did record time to the summit, mostly pumped by all the nice hikers who were also pumped. We were all determined to make it, although the requisite number dropped out due to altitude.

I had posted earlier Does Anyone Have The Cure for Pre-Hike Jitters and had helped myself overcome this by:

1. Pack your backpack BEFORE you go to sleep. You won't keep waking up thinking about what you forgot.

2. I put out my hiking clothes in the order I would put them on, like a fireman who keeps his clothes and boots by the side of the bed and that's the first thing he steps into. Saves time hunting for those socks who sneak away.

3.Bear-proofed the car before I went to bed, so not to wake up wondering what the bear would think was food and would I return to find windows smashed.

I slept 3 good hours and that was enough to get me over the top.

The 97 switchbacks.

Some new hikers had their minds made up to fear them before they set foot on them. They are not that hard and to take your mind off the distance, just marvel at how the trail builders put a trail on the side of a steep mountain that was once only scree. The rock walls they built without mortar and modern machinery is one of the little Wonders of The World. I have to admit though I got a little acrophobia (?) towards the last 2 long switchbacks. It was like being on the window ledge of a very tall building and looking down with nothing below.

We had a small party at Trail Crest before heading to the summit. Just easy all the way this time, a perfect day. Ray, I hope you found Donna, she went back twice to the top looking for you.

Question: Whitney looks very close from the switchbacks, almost only a 1/2 mile away as the crow flies. Does anyone know if this is true?

Also the incredible rock formation above that last 100 feet to Trail Crest on the south side of the 97 switchbacks that looks for all the world like a crown. Is that nature made or man-made? Looks like a logo for the Whitney region.

Anyway all you hikers new to Whitney, don't fear the distance or altitude (if you're acclimated), just enjoy the wonders of this trail. Even if you don't make the summit you're in for a heck of an experience. You will never forget it and you'll be back many times like all of us on this board.

Congrats on making it!

I think the rock formation you are talking about south of trail crest and just above the last switchback is called Discovery Pinnacle. Sure is natural and actually quite large. It's an easy boulder climb to it from trail crest. There are a bunch of use trails and cairns/ducks marking the way. Only takes a couple minutes to get there from trail crest. When you get to it, stay to the east side of the pinnacle. From the south of it you will notice that to the west side of the pinnacle is a large drop-off. From the south, you can also see right into Miter Basin and this is also the top of the infamous Sand Hill.

What time did you summit? And, what was the weather at the top?

SummitSeekr, you aren't too far off in crow miles. From Trail Crest to Whitney's peak, it is 1.3 crow, or straight-line miles. I think I have run into ravens up on the Whitney crest, but the rest of us have to do it the old fashioned way--on our feet for 2.5 miles or so.

Thanks, Hikern8, I thought that was Discovery Pinnacle, but wasn't sure because there is another rock formation at Trail Crest. I did not know you could climb to it and I definitely will do that next year.

Thanks Wayne,Whitney did look closer than that, but it's all the little switchbacks on the west side that make it farther.

Melvin Cougar-Trip Times:

Woke up 2:20AM
Left Lone Pine Motel at 2:45AM
At Portal/parked and left at 3:05AM (What are we doing out at this hour!)
Lone Pine Lake at 5:09AM
Outpost Camp at 5:36AM
Mirror Lake at 6:22AM
Trailside Mdws at 7:27AM
Consultation Lake Overlook (that high man made wall of rocks) at 8:27AM
Trail CAmp at 8:48AM
***Break of 25 minutes****
On 97 switchbacks at 9:13 AM
Cables at 10:04AM
Trail Crest at 11:53AM
***Break of 20 minutes***
Start to Summit at 12:14PM
Summit at 2:25PM
Stay at summit 30 mins.

Coming down
Leave summit 2:55PM
Trail Crest 5:05 PM
Cables 6:12PM
West end of Trail Camp (trail flattens) 6:47PM
***Break 20 minutes***
Leave Trail CAmp 7:05PM
Trailside Mdws 7:55PM
Mirror Lake 8:35PM
Outpost Camp 8:55PM
Lone Pine Lake at 9:20 Pm
Portal 10:25PM

These aren't the fastest times ever, but at my age I am doing this when, as a kid visiting my grandparents in a rest home, people younger than I am today were vegging out in a wheel chair, blankly staring out a window, with nothing in life to interest or motivate them. I had not one problem with my heart or breathing and was so very thankful to be where I was, doing what I did!

Sorry Melvin, about the weather that day.
Perfect as it can get in this area. Slight cool wind, clouds late, no rain.

Cool enough in the AM to make my pen not write (about 48 degrees), sun came up over the south mountains at 7:27AM and was quite warm. Comfortable at summit.Always bring along what you'd need if the weather turned bad.