Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board SoCal Hikes in Preparation for Whitney

Hello,
Planning my first trip to Whitney in May, and looking to get as much practice as possible in similar conditions, or at least as similar as I can find here in SoCal. I've done San Gorgonio twice, once in November without snow and recently in March with lots of snow. I'm hoping to hit Mt. Baldy ski hut/bowl route asap. Are there other hikes in SoCal that will help prepare me, specifically for spring conditions on Whitney?

San Jacinto via Humber Park (devils slide trail) or the Deer Springs trail are good hikes. Try Baldy from the village for some extra vertical gain.

Baldy Bowl is best but its not going to be with us too much longer. Try Bighorn Peak from its base right up the north slope...this is about a 1,000' of steep in a mile. Then there is Mt. Badden-Powell, 2,800' of up in about mile and half. Two weeks ago B-P had snow down to the parking lot. Where people get into trouble here is descending. It is very easy to get off line. A couple I haven't done yet that will be with us for a while...San Gorgonio from South Fork Trailhead, up either one of the chutes...this is about 12 to 13 miles round trip. There there is Cucamonga Peak, straight up the ridge from Cucamonga Saddle...1,200' in less than a mile. I've done it like this in the summer and want to do it this spring, if I can find the time.

These will all prepare you for the Trail Camp-Trail Crest climb.

I think the Marion Mountain Trail on san Jacinto is a nice "mini" Whitney. Only about 6 miles each direction, but the grade is tough, it has large steps and minor obstacles. Going down is tough. Great elevation gain and incredible scenery, possibly the best in SoCal. It is the most unused trail on San Jacinto. Even the rangers don't hike it. I know that because I've talked to rangers on other trails on San Jacinto.

Devils Slide is also nice. A bit longer, very pretty hike, but not as tough as Marion Mountain. If you haven't hiked San Jacinto, you cannot beat the fantastic view from the summit.

Depending on the ice and snow, I'm hoping to go up it in the next two or three weeks.

I would think the higher the elevation the better, so San Gorgonio comes to mind. Try dayhiking the chutes on the north side of San Gorgonio or Jepson or hike San Gorgonio via Vivian Creek. Another idea would be to scramble up Dobbs Ridge to Dobbs Peak and then continue on to San Gorgonio. Check out SummitPost.org for details on some of these routes.

In San Diego you could try repeats of Cuyamca Peak fire road. It's good hill training with some elevation.
Maureen

Awesome list. Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Definitely all good suggestions. I did the Vivian Creek trail on San Gorgonio right before my first Whitney hike. If you could do this hike once or twice just before heading up to Whitney, I think it would help with training and acclimatization. Good luck!

Mt. Baden Powell from Vincent Gap is definitely a strenuous hike but the figures given here aren't correct. The 2,800' elevation gain is spread over 3.7 miles according to the Harrison map. I think that's consistent with the trail signage. I've done this hike many times and it sure seems like less than 1000' up per mile.

Burt

The winter route on Baden-Powell (when snow covers the trail) is straight up, so much shorter than 3.7 miles. I would think that if you're preparing for a spring climb of Whitney, you'd want to be out practicing in the snow.

My mapping program has it at ~1.25 miles up but with wobbles and jogs my guess it's about 1.5 miles. There currently nothing approximating a trail there and won't be until May or June. Mt. Badden-Powell is not benign 3.7 mile hike in the winter/spring. It is very easy to get off line descending and put yourself extremely steep tree choked terrain...I've done it a few times. It's not like Baldy Bowl where its 2 hours up from the hut and 15 minutes down on your rear end.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/6/b/5/highres_14034965.jpeg

Cristobal asked for climbs which will best prepare him for a mid-spring trip up the MMWT after a moderate winter. That trip will take him up the chute to Trail Crest, which is similar to climbing to Mt. Baldy through the bowl in current conditions.

To me, the most important thing in the spring on the MMWT is being able to negotiate the aforementioned section safely thus my recommendations.

Good point... Baldy bowl (with current conditions) is the perfect training hike for the 'chute to Trail Crest' section of the MMWT. San Jacinto and San Gorgonio would help for acclimatization just prior to Mt. Whitney...

I got it. I saw things as a hiker, not a mountaineer.

Baldy from the Village (Bear Flat Trail) and back down via Devil's Backbone will give you various conditions to experience. Take crampons and ice axe. I'm assuming you already know how to self-arrest. If not, take a snow travel course from SMI, http://www.sierramountaineering.com/ Nothing in So Cal is over 11,500 so you cannot experience what is on Whitney between 11,500 and 14,500. There will be LOTS OF SNOW in May. Make sure you have your skills, equipment, clothing and footwear ready.