Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board The "Windows"

Does anyone have good pictures of the "Windows" on Whitney? I have heard about them but have yet to really see what it looks like crossing over such a narrow part of the trail at high elevations. Hopefully we will see first hand in July, but I would like to visually prepare myself in advance to see if I can tackle them since I do have a slight fear of heights under certain conditions.
Tina

Tina,

Drop me an e-mail at rob.spinosa@flagstar.com and I will send you pictures from the trail up at the Windows.

Though not the best photo the following link might give you an idea of what one of the "windows" looks like. It's not uncommon for people to walk right by and not even notice.

<a href="http://www.rickkent.net/ViewerPlus/viewphoto.asp?ID=4173">Photo</a>

-Rick

I'd have to agree with Rick, they are easily missed. While they do provide nice views, they really aren't all that threatening. Here are a couple pictures.

<a href="http://everythingoutdoors.org/gallery/Whitney2004/DSC02761" target=_new>Photo 1</a>
<a href="http://everythingoutdoors.org/gallery/Whitney2004/DSC02762" target=_new>Photo 2</a>

I climbed Whitney for the first time last year, once in July and once in October. I never felt nervous about the windows. No vertigo or feeling like you would fall. In October there was 1-2 inches of snow on that part of the trail and it still was nothing to worry about. Just don't do it blindfolded.

Rick - I looked at you're picture and all I could say was "holy crap!"

I'll join the chorus of "the windows are nothing to worry about." I never knew the windows were anything to worry about until someone asked about it on this board some time back.

The first time up, I walked by them without knowing there was anything special about those spots. A nice view, but there are nice views from many places on the trail, including the top.

I hiked up Whitney once with someone who has a certain fear of heights (she got a little panicky on the "Narrows" going up Longs Peak). I assured here that there was nothing like that on Whitney. After the hike, she said I was right. I asked her about the windows (I didn't want to ask until after the hike to avoid creating any fear unnecessarily), and she said she didn't notice any exposure when we passed them. Of course, if she had been aware that she was supposed to fear them, she might have felt differently.

I'm not sure that any of those pictures posted completely capture how harmless they feel, although I do recognize that there are people who have posted here that the windows make them panicky, so at some level of acrophobia, they must feel scary, I just don't know why.

Thanks for the input. I am sure I will be okay. I looked at the other pictures and it gave me a better idea as to how wide the trail is. It's actually wider then I thought. I would think that a stong wind up there would change things a lot when it came to crossing the windows. Is that ever an issue? Don't think I would chance it then. How far are they from the summit?

Oh, and don't forget the spot where you have to step over the gaping chasm ...

<a href="http://www.summitpost.org/mountains/photo_link.pl?photo_id=66363&object_id=9&type=mountain&mountain_id=9&route_id">Chasm</a>

Heh.... just kidding.

-Rick

You have mentioned wind. I can't remember there not being a windy day in the Sierra.

I've got through the "windows" on a windy day and didn't have any problems but it wasn't a first class howl.

Rick - Now that's an encouraging photo!! If that doesn't chase us all away, I don't know what would. Pretty incredible picture.

I have been up there on a windy day and it was not any "windier" at the windows. When you put things in perspective, the gap in the windows is really very small when compared against the whole rise in the ridge from the west. Moving air does not change directions that easily in open space.

Certainly under normal circumstances the Windows are not a big deal--one or two are a little "airy", but the trail is wide and level. The only risk I've ever heard is if a good East wind is blowing it can hit you pretty suddenly as you step into the break in the ridge. I heard one guy say he had to crawl past the Windows in such conditions, but in my 6 trips to Whitney I've never felt more than a moderate breeze there.

I think it all depends on your attitude, which can vary unknowably. The first time I climbed the main trail (around a hundred years ago, I think), I remember the windows as truly harrowing, but last year, at the end of a JMT hike, they were just cool! I don't have a good head for heights -- the mere thought of looking over the edge of Half Dome scares the bejesus out of me -- but for some reason the windows didn't bother me even slightly last summer.

If you can walk down a 4 foot wide sidewalk without falling off you shouldn't have any problem with the windows--unless, of course, there is ice on the trail. If you're acrophobic, just focus on the step in front of you and not the spectacular view to each side.

<div><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.members.tripod.com/joshhikes/page2.html">http://www.members.tripod.com/joshhikes/page2.html</a></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:11;color:*****;" ><a href="http://www.members.tripod.com/joshhikes/whitney/5window1.jpg"><span style="text-decoration: none;color:*****;" >A “window” on the summit trail between Mt. Muir and Mt. Whitney</span></a></span> </div>



<a href="http://joshhikes.blogspot.com/2005/05/window-on-summit-trail-between-mt-muir.html"></a>

Rick;
Thank you for the "Chasm" picture, my wife and I are still laughing.

Tina;
The first time I came up to a window, I just looked out...2,000' straight down. Well, I didn't think I was afraid of heights but I got really dizzy. On the rest of the windows I just held my right hand up to block my vision on that side. My son got a good laugh, but this worked well for me.
Last year I just focused on the end of the trail past the window and it seemed to work.
The trail is really wider than it seems and most of the windows are only a few steps long.

Happy hiking, good weather!!

Rick...
The Chasm picture is the BEST!!!

Last August I climbed Whitney with friends.
I DO NOT like heights and thus looked at every picture ever posted on the web prior to the hike.
I was still nervous. The pictures all seem to make it look worse than it is.
Honestly the windows are not bad! I actually stopped in the middle of them to take pix.
Like a prior post said...if you can walk on a 4-6 foot sidewalk without falling...you can do the windows.
Truly, you would have to work at falling off.

Have fun!!

I was concerned about the Windows when I hiked the trail with my young son but once we were there it was not as bad as feared.

Thanks for all the input. I have to finish the JMT first before I will ever see the windows! I am thinking positive and with 3-4 weeks to work with, basically the month of July, we should be able to obtain our goal. Whitney will be the icing on the cake. Dessert before the burgers at Portal. I hear they beat freeze dried by a long shot. After 3 weeks of boiling water, we will be ready for just about anything!!