Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board White Mtn, other options for acclimatizing?

Heading up to Lone Pine on Sat 7/24 to spend 2 days acclimatizing before our hike day of Mon 7/26. Last year we did a hike in Onion Valley, and another one in Horseshoe Meadows. Onion Valley was great and I'd do it again, but I'd like an alternative to Horseshoe Meadows. How far away is White Mtn from Lone Pine? Would that be a good choice? Since it's for the day before our Whitney hike, I'm looking for something relatively easy yet at a high elevation for a good portion of time.

thanks

that would be a 1.5hr one way drive from Lone Pine to Big Pine and up rte 168 and turn off to White Mt Rd. I've been to the Sierra Overlook there many times for a glorious morning view of the Owens Valley and the looming Wall of the Eastern Sierra. 2 miles beyond that is the Schulman visitors center/short discovery hike of 30 minute or so, some old trees, and thin air (thin enough for day one!) hint, hint at 10,000 ft.

12 miles on dirt road beyond that will get you to the oldest trees ( Patriarch Grove). beyond that is the jeep trail to White Mt. I have not done that. Here is one persons report
White Mt TR

That side is very dry, barren and long. Personally, I never had any enthusiasm for going there. An alternative? Much prettier, say, going to Bishop South Lake, dayhike from there, maybe few miles round trip to Treasure Lakes 10,700 ft, for example. No need to wear yourself out trying to acclimatize on the long, hot, dry, shadeless 14,000 ft White Mt .

I'd strongly recommend hiking up to Kearsage Peak (12,598') from Onion Valley if you don't mind some cross-country hiking.

Rather short hike (4-5 miles RT, but very steep).

Here's a map and TR:

http://www.snwburd.com/bob/maps/kearsarge_1.html

http://www.snwburd.com/bob/trip_reports/kearsarge_1.html


Hope it helps,

Amin

We stayed at the White Mt. trailhead twice before Whitney climb and loved it. Do not stay at the campground which is only at about 8,000' while the trailhead is at about 11,000'. As a part of acclimatization we hiked White Mountain. It's a very easy hike but since it is a 14-er you need to consider the altitude. Hey, there is even a toilet there.
Watch out for marmots though. They've been known to chew on car parts.
The dirt road to the trailhead is a bit bumpy but fun.