Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trail Camp versus Outpost Camp

Which would y'all recommend for a three day trip in late September?

My original thought was to camp at Trail Camp and give myself a fairly short hike to the summit on day 2 but the more I think about it, the more I kinda like the idea of Outpost Camp. I'm a strong hiker but altitude can be a bit of an issue (I take Diamox and will hopefully be summiting Mauna Kea, HI a few days before Whitney so I should be reasonably OK). Sleeping at 10,300 sounds better than 12K plus. With an early start, a 14 mile RT from Outpost shouldn't be so bad. May be a gametime decision based on weather and how I'm feeling. Thoughts, experiences?

If you properly acclimate, you may want to go on to Trail Camp. My original plan last year when I hiked Whitney was to camp at Outpost, but I felt good and it was early when I got to Outpost. So I pressed on to Trail camp. As a result, the next day was MUCH easier. Camping at Trail camp was also alot of fun, even if it was a little crowded. Why not keep your options open?

I don't like Trail camp for several reasons. First is the litter, by litter I mean waste under every rock. Second there is no shelter, just rocks everywhere kinda like the surface of the moon IMO. Third would be the altitude, I had a much more enjoyable night at Outpost camp.
Outpost camp has its own drawbacks. Mosquitos were non-existent at Trail camp but abundant at Outpost. It was difficult clearing a spot so that there were no rocks in my back for the night. There are the advantages of not having to carry a heavy pack all the way to Trail camp, the lower altitude, and it is a much more attractive place. Next time I go up I will stay somewhere in the vicinity of Outpost away from the main trail and day hike Whitney from there. Just my 2ç, whatever you do have fun!!

Thank you for posting this Catamount. I was contemplating the very same issue today for a trip coming up next weekend. I wonder what trail camp is like. I hear it often gets windy and wonder whether the ground would be soft enough for stakes, or even better if there are sufficient rocks to secure a tent with rope. Is there any privacy in terms of using the wag bag? Is the water trustworthy? Does anybody know where to find pictures of each of those camps?

Camping at outpost camp sounds much more enjoyable, but I imagine that the 15 mile roundtrip will still be incredibly strenuous. Not like any old other 15 mile hike. But then again some people do it all in one stretch. Not me, though.

How about a compromise? Try & find some of Bob R's secret spots somewhere between Outpost & Trail Camp. There are a couple nice spots up above Mirror Lake, & also a decent area a few minute's hike above & beyond the Trailside Meadow, off to the right of the trail. You can also find some spots just below Trail Camp to the left
of the trail, overlooking Consultation Lake. You can get a shorter summit day than if you camped @ Outpost, & still have a little peace, quiet, & privacy.

Trail Camp is very rough and exposed. It can be very windy, and the weather can change in a heartbeat. However, it does shorten your summit day quite a bit, as opposed to Outpost Camp. The main problem or benefit (depending on your perspective) of camping anywhere else besides Outpost or Trail Camp is that you will likely be by yourselves. Frankly, I enjoyed meeting other people, and spending time with the people I met along the way.

You should not have any trouble pitching your tent at Trail Camp. You will probably be able to drive your stakes ok, but you may want to bring some extra cord in case you have to tie off using large rocks and boulders. Privacy is a real problem if you have to wag in your bag. But there are lots of huge boulders in the area, and you should be able to find some privacy, although it is a challenge. The water source is very reliable -- it is a small pond right at Trail Camp. Others will disagree, but I would be sure to either filter it or use a Steripen. Maybe someone else with better computer skills will post some pictures of Trail Camp.

Tons of images on the internet if you do a search for "Outpost Camp" or "Trail Camp". Be sure to add Whitney in the search term. If you look hard enough, you should even be able to find video of each. Possibly on YouTube.

I actually prefer Lone Pine Lake over Outpost Camp, because it's off the trail so I don't have to worry about dayhikers passing through camp in the early morning hours (I know, I've been one of them, ). Trail camp has a different energy, more like "base camp".

At TC, I couldn't drive all the stakes in, ended up guying some lines to rocks, but no trouble doing that. As far as privacy using the WAG bag, just get up early enough and the semi-darkness helps,

Thanks for the replies so far. Exactly the kind of insights I was hoping for. I definitely plan of keeping my options open and do like the idea of scouting out an area in between. Ideally, I'd like to set up early and have a lot of time to just chill on Day 1. Trail camp looks like a cool place to be for an hour or two ... but I'm not sure I want to spend two nights there. Thanks again.

Yes, two nights at TC would be a drag. You may want to plan on staying at TC the first night, and Outpost the second. If you felt like it, you could even hike out to the Portal the second day, depending on the weather, or whatever. You really don't have to decide right now.

On 2 previous Mt. Whitney trips, we spent the night before at the Portal to acclimate after coming from sea level. The first night was spent at Outpost with a day hike to Trailside Meadows. The second night was spent at Trail Camp. These were two easy hikes with plenty of time to acclimate. Experienced some sleep difficulty at Trail Camp but stayed well hydrated and experienced no other acclimation issues. The third day we reached the summit, came back to Trail Camp, packed up and reached the Portal by 8:30 PM. No records broken here - just a slow, controlled ascent for a couple of flatlanders.

I did a three day trip in mid-Sept with a double overnight at Trail Camp and it worked well for me. No real problems pitching tents, water, or wag bags. I had already acclimatized pretty well, and had my best nights sleep in the Sierras at TC because I didn't have any bears marching through the campsite like everywhere else. My experience with the other campers was also quite pleasant. Lots of interesting people and you will be the "celebrity-of-the-camp" after your summit.

For me, hiking in the dark isn't that much fun. My profile allowed for 8AM departures every morning with lots of extra time (daylight) left over every day. The hardest day was the first, with each day becoming easier. Bankers don't have an easier schedule than what I did.


If you are sure of this, then a double Outpost Camp may be more suited for you. But as others have posted, give yourself the flexibility of deciding while you are on the trail. Weather may also determine how far/fast you can move. Don't be afraid to think outside the box.

The last two times we hiked Whitney we spent a night at Horseshoe Meadows, next morning we drove to the Portal, hiked to TC, summited the next day and hiked back to the portal. That is a long day but worth it. Two days at TC seems boring to me. Mosquitos like me so Outpost is not a good option. It's a personal thing, either camp is good. I like the "base camp" feeling at TC. Have fun.

TC is a social place, but so is the whole trail. I met a lot of people and talked a lot along the way up and down, on the summit, and at TC. I still lean toward somewhere in the vicinity of Outpost. I just prefer to be below tree-line, and while I enjoy being social on the trail I go to the mountain for peace and solitude. If you go off the MT a little ways you would have privacy which is non-existent at TC.

Just to follow up on the thread I started: After much thought, I decided to stay at Outpost Camp and feel this was the right decision for me. I started my summit hike from Outpost at 5:30 AM and summited at 11:15 AM on the 27th ... which is about average time as far as I can tell. I liked Outpost a lot with the exception of the dayhikers that started tramping through in the middle of the night but I was prepared for that.

As one poster suggested, staying at Outpost on night one and then Trail Camp on night two seemed to be a good way to go. I talked to three different parties who either did it this way or were in the process of completing this agenda. The "painless way" as one gentleman described it.

Anyway, thanks for all the feedback. I've really enjoyed reading this board the last few months. Cheers and safe climbing!

Cat thier are few things as wonderous to listen to than the waterfall at outpost or the cork coming out of a fine single malt scotch.

However, trail camp wins over outpost on several measures, trailcamp has pleanty of spots out of the way, 8 years ago i was shown the secret ranger spot at the mouth of the reflexion lake that blocks the wind fine.

30 meters to the north off the trail at trail camp has a shoot or two where all wind is blocked.

Out post is beautiful, however your nice night of sleep will be interupted by morons seeing you tent and flashing their lites on you and others, i dont care where you stay outpost this happens.
It still is a great place to stay on the way down, nothing beats a fine shower in the waterfall, as long as you dont mind the shirnkage