Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mt. Dana - requesting information

A group of us are planning to hike Mt. Dana to acclimate prior to the Whitney hike. Anybody been to Mt. Dana recently?

Looking for information on: Trail access, How long does it take, Is it worth it and if there are any other mountains at that altitude we can perhaps consider to acclimate. Thanks all..

I've done Mt. Dana three years now on my way over to Owens Valley. The trail head is literally across from the entrance to the park at Tioga Pass. Just pull over to the south, park, and start hiking. It is a great warm up hike with awesome views of Mono Lake. The trail is fairly steep once you leave the tree line. We usually start around 8:00am and are back to the car by noon or 1:00pm. Wear layers as it can get cool up there at 13,000'. I would try to see what the snow is like as Tioga Pass is still closed. Good luck!

As the other poster noted, the trail starts right at the entrance booth. BUT do not expect the ran-ger (the message board seems to asterisk out that word) to tell you. It is not an official park trail and some would rather not acknowledge its existence.

There are places where it does become sketchy and I managed to lose it somewhere at around 12,500 feet and did not relish the off-trail bouldering. The route higher up (a large flat area) is NOT along the left ridge but tended to hug below just where it levels out, if I recall.

Great views, particularly of near circular Mono Lake.

Some nice views early on off to the right over a tarn and meadows. Rocky after that with views to the north (behind you).

You did not say when you plan to go. On your other post on <A href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003115">Topic 3115</A> you were concerned about Tioga Road being closed in Yosemite. As I noted there, the road is open on the east side. At the same time, there still should be some snow up there.

As for the route up, you can read more about it at Summit Post's description of <A href="http://www.summitpost.org/show/mountain_link.pl/mountain_id/108">Mt Dana</A>.

The other posters have pretty well covered it. I've been up there a number of times. There's a pretty obvious use trail across from the entrance station and it climbs steeply for the first half or so, then peters out as you reach a sort of plateau before the summit cone comes into full view. After that there's really no trail as such, but several routes some of which are marked somewhat with cairns. Personally I kind of like to cut up to the left and then sort of follow the ridge line to the top. You get good views off to the east that way and there is quite a drop off in that direction. At any event, whichever way you go, it's a talus hop for the last half of the hike.
Mt. Dana is nice because you get to the top of a 13K peak with oustanding views and it doesn't take a long time.

Adrian

VersatileFred:

I have a day hike permit for Whitney for July 11th and would like to acclimate before I hit the MMWT. I had AMS beyond Trail Crest last year and this time I wanted to spend couple days above 10k feet. I know Tioga pass thru Yosemite is closed and not sure how to get to Mt. Dana. From what I've been reading, looks like there is no clear marked trail on Dana.

Can you recommend anything else for acclimating? Thanks!

You can check out the area by <A href="http://www.rockcreeklake.com/">Rock Creek Lake</A> and <A href="http://www.rockcreeklake.com/hiking/flat2.htm">Mosquito Flat</A>. From Mosquito Flat you can hike up a better trail to <A href="http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_forest/ca/hik_iny4.htm">Mono Pass</A> at 12,000 feet. That hike is not as intense as Mount Dana but you still get up to 12,000 feet. You also are closer to Lone Pine.

I did this hike a few years ago in late July. The wildflowers at the base trail were awesome. The marmots were annoying and aggressive. Toward the top, the scree made for some slow going. One of the best views of Mono Lake-don't forget to sign the log book!

By that weekend Tioga should be open, barring complete disaster. Dana isn't a bad climb/hike, though if you had issues with 13500ft Trail Crest, then maybe something lower would be better(ease yourself into the altitude). Mt Hoffman is another moderate non-technical peak, mostly trail. I agree that Rock Creek is a great place to acclimitize, really mellow trails at high elevation. Also remember that even though passes and trailheads will be open by then, upper elevations will hold snow, especially North facing slopes.
Eric

I agree with Eric as to a lesser elevation. Mt. Conness is across from Dana, on the north side of Tioga Pass Road. Take Saddlebag Lake Road in a ways to the last campground before Saddlebag Lake on the left - walk through the campground and onto the trail past the Smithsonian Institute cabin - then off trail to the left - then map and compass. Conness is about 1,000 feet lower than Dana, with 100 times the beauty, glacial tarns, and spectacular views. There are several different approaches. Also, Mt. Banner (from a trailhead at June Lake) would be a rewarding and acclimatizing peak. And TimFitz would love both or either as well.

Planning on hiking Mt. Dana the weekend AFTER July 4th enroute to Mt. Whitney mainly to acclimate.

Any idea if I'd still need crampons and ice axe? Looking for an update on the snow situation at that altitude. Thanks!

As noted in my <A href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003177">Eastern Sierra Report</A> from 9 days ago there were still large snow fields on the trail to Mono Pass around 11,000 feet. The Tioga Road was just opened on Friday and Tioga Pass is just under 10,000 feet. I would assume that there would still be some snow up there when you go, but it may be gone from the areas that have full exposure to the sun (like the peak) by then. It is hard to say, since the route up the slope is north facing. Maybe somebody else will have some better data for you before then.

The Tioga Pass road has been clear for a couple of weeks. The reason it did not open until last Friday is the avalanche danger that still existed in a couple of locations where the road parallels some of the very steep granite walls. Olmstead Point is the most obvious. Many Yosemite hikers are reporting that most of the snow below 10,000 ft is gone except in north facing slopes and very shaded areas. The road to the Tuolumne Lodge has been open for park employees since mid June.

VersatileFred, you had mentioned about large snow fields on Mono Pass in your post of 6/27 above. Any idea what the snow conditions would be on next Saturday/Sunday (July 9/10)? Planning to hike Mosquito Flat to Mono Pass for acclimatization as you had pointed earlier.

Of all my hikes prior to summitting Whitney, I would rank Mount Dana as one I would not want to do again. It was not particularly interesting and if you get off the trail on the right side, its a steep rock climb and descent along the upper third. If you want to acclimate, I second that Mosquito Flat/Little Lakes Valley Trail is a good place. http://www.rockcreeklake.com/hiking/flat2.htm

Our last two summit hikes to Whitney included a relaxing hike along Little Lakes Valley Trail. We stopped in Mammoth Lakes, got some picnic food and acclimated at the 12,000 ft elevation. Other places include Kearsage Pass near Independence. The scenery at both places are spectacular.

Halfdomehike:

Here's a shot back down from Mono Pass in July 2003, probably a more normal snow year.



summit lake just past Mono Pass.



And here's Summit Lake from June 2002. More snow and others may be able to say whether this July is more like that year's June.

HalfDomeHike:
I would expect that most of the snow fields near Mosquito Flat will be melted by then. (There was a section where there were some downed trees part of the way up the trail, but that area is easy to bypass). Up near Ruby Lake is probably where you will start to see the snow consistently. It was pretty deep up there two weeks ago so there still should be a residue of sun cups next weekend. Just follow the foot tracks. It should not be any more of a problem than the main Mount Whitney trail up by Trail Camp (if you look at Bob R's photos).

Bobk530: How does one get to 12k feet at Mammoth? Thanks!

Clarifcation: We stopped in the Town of Mammoth Lakes to pick up picnic food, drove south down Highway 395 for about 15 miles, turn right onto Rock Creek Road for 10 miles where it ends at a nice parking lot and trailhead at Elevation 10,300 ft. The Little Lakes Valley trail goes to the left and you can easily go to an elevation over 11,100 ft and much higher if you have time. The Mono Pass trail split near the beginning of the Little Lakes Valley trail and goes to the right. It will take you up to Elevation 12,400 ft.

During first time up Whitney, we were able to pickup overnight permits for the Whitney Main Trail, backpacked to Trail Camp at Elevation 12,039 ft and spent the entire day just relaxing and talking to hikers going up and down the main trail. Early the next morning, we hiked up the summit during the morning coolness, which is much better than enduring the heat. I mention this because last year we camped overnight at Outpost Camp at Elevation 10,360 ft, hiked up the summit the next morning, but I had a tough time between Trail Crest and the Summit. I was totally wasted by the time we made it back to Outpost Camp. Acclimation at 12,000 ft really makes a difference for me.

Halfdomehike,

I believe that he was referring to 12,000 feet at Mono Pass, as noted in his web page reference. Mosquito Flat is less than an hour away from Mammoth Lakes. The summit of Mammoth Mountain is only 11,000 feet.

As I noted on your other post, if you want to stay up near 10,000 feet and hike up to Mono Pass, you probably would be best off staying overnight near Rock Creek Lake. I know that you are hoping to stay overnight above 10,000 feet and hike to 13,000 feet, but there is not that much in the area that is very convenient (i.e. developed), particularly with all the residual snow that we have had this year.