Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Day Hike on June 8th?

I am heading up the main trail on June 7th-8th with 2 PCT thru-hikers. I am flying into Las Vegas on 6/6 and driving to Kennedy Meadows (to pick up the thru-hikers) and then we are heading to Lone Pine. The question is, is it feasible to even the try the main trail as a day hike on 6/8? What are we looking at time wise (assuming condtions stay more or less the way they are now), for 3 moderately fit hikers? We are also going with a non-climbing friend who is just going to stay at Whitney Portal while we hike. The plan would be to arrive into Lone Pine on Sunday night and then do an acclimization hike to Lone Pine Lake on 6/7. Sleep at Whitney Portal, and shoot for a 3 AM start on 6/8, returning the same day. We all have ice axes, crampons, etc., with some (but limited) experience using them. We are all practiced in self-arrest and fairly cautious. The summit is obviously the main goal, but if we only get to trail crest, I think we would all be perfectly happy.

The other option would be to camp at Outpost Camp the night of 6/7, but I am not sure if that is worth it, as we would need to carry tents, food, non-climbing friend, etc.. up to Outpost Camp. I guess the question is, are we really saving that much time and energy by camping on the mountain?

I've been following this board for the past few weeks and it is a really great resource. Thanks everyone for all of the updates and posts.

Any insight would be appreciated in regards to our plans.

Thanks!

Sound like the moderately in shape might be the limiting factor. It's a very long day when there is snow around.

Let's put it this way, go have a great experience. If you summit great, if you don't you will have a lot of great memories.

I've always questioned the wisdom of doing even a moderate hike the day before a big one.

Why not use that energy towards the main goal - Whitney itself, and overnight at Outpost Camp as you suggested? Then, leave early on the 8th for the peak.

Yeah..we are all in pretty good shape (moderately fit). I have been training for an August Mt Rainier climb for about 6 months now and my 2 friends are curently thru-hiking the PCT (so they should be in quite good shape). The 3 of us climbing Mt Washington here on the east coast this winter and did pretty well. Granted it does not compare to Mt Whitney with the altitude and all. However, it was 4,000 vertical feet over 4 miles with a fair amount of snow, temps in the 20's and 40 mph winds. Took us about 4 hours up, 2 1/2 hours down. Pretty spent when it was all said and done, but we still managed okay.

I guess the question is, are people even attempting day-hikes this time of year, or is it the norm to camp on the mountain?

Re:Kevin

Yeah, that was the thought. However, we have the non-climbing friend with us who may be more comfortable staying at Whitney Portal rather than Outpost Camp. I guess I was wondering if it is worth lugging or tents, cooking gear, extra food, etc, up to Outpost Camp. Looks like the distance from Whitney Portal to Outpost Camp is only 3.8 miles over what appears to be a moderate slope. 2 hours hike?

I would do either, I am just trying to make it relatively comfortable for all involved....

Since you're soliciting opinions, mine is that it is NOT worth lugging tents, cooking gear, etc. to Outpost Camp.