Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Supplies for the Summit

Thanks y'all. You've all been terrifice with information. I understand it is acceptable to leave our packs at Trail camp, then summit and return to trail camp, provided we bring 2-3 liters of water. If we start up from Trail Camp first thing in the morning, what else do we need to bring, and what is the best way transport the stiff up up there?

Some people also bring a small daypack for summit day; others bring their large pack and snug it down. If you start NLT sun-up, you should be fine, time-wise. In addition to 2-3 liters of water, bring food & snacks (a bit more than you think you'll need), a light fleece, wind gear, sunglasses & sunscreen, some light gloves, headlamp, and hat (usually gets noticeably colder above Trail Crest), your camera, and - last but not least - perseverance and sense of humor.

Don't forget to take lots of pictures both on the way up and down, and have a great trip.

Personal preference I suppose. On any day hike I carry:
Emergency kit w/space blanket
Headlamp (never know if you'll get caught out late)
snack
2nd layer (long sleeve something like a rain jacket)
Hat
sunscreen
water
pocket knife
carried in a small day-pack - or compressed overnight pack depending on circumstances.

I want to emphasize the need to bring plenty of water, because I often don't bring enough. I've regretted not bringing 3 liters before! I could easily drink it.

There is no water up there!!

On the Main Trail, the last place I know of to get water is near Trail Camp. From the pond (yuck!) at Trail Camp, it's a 10 mile round trip to the summit. Bring enough water to walk a strenuous 10 miles!

I think BobR has a list of water sources near Whitney, or the Visitor Center in Lone Pine has a list.

Have Fun!
~RangerDoug

What about the spring in the switchbacks? That still there right?

I've heard it is. The last time I went up the switchbacks it was mostly snow runoff with a lot of snow still on the trail...that was about June 15.

I'd like someone to show me the sources up there. I hear it, and I see water on the trail, but I haven't poked around to find any I'd drink yet. That would be very helpful, so I could use it regularly, and pass the information on to visitors about the spring. I try not to tell anyone anything I'm not sure of, especially water sources!

Oh yeh! Don't forget to bring a poop bag! It's nice to have a fresh one to take to the summit, and it's fine to leave a filled one at your camp while you day hike.

Cheers!
~Doug

Mom and I will be up there the last couple of days of July... we had planned on using the spring so I'll see what poking around we might be able to do... nothing like exploring an area to have an excuse for a breather, right?

I was there on Sunday, and spring that pours out of switchback 23 was strong - water was flowing down the trail for several switchbacks below it. It didn't get very cold Saturday nite, so that may have created the strong melt, as it sometimes runs less in the AM and then increases during the day.

There were more skypilot flowers on the switchbacks as I'd ever seen, and made the more enjoyable by the scent in the early morning. Here's a photo of one patch:



and another patch, this time white, which I'd never seen before:



There were also some striking flowers a bit lower, near Trail Meadow:



I expect most will still be in bloom when you do your hike. Lots of other varieties as well - these just stood out.

Oh Wow Kevin! Great pics!!!

those shooting stars sure like their water

Thanks for the id, Tom. We've bought 2 flower books since we moved here, and they don't scratch the surface in terms of the number and variety of flowers in the eastern sierra desert and mountains.

These shooting stars were on both sides of the trail and looked like they'd be in bloom for awhile. Plenty of water in the stream, and the big snowfield on the south side of the trail will take awhile to melt.