Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mt. Whitney Main Trail GoPro Footage...

Back in the day, there was a dude who carried video gear up the Main Trail...
I got a cheap GoPro 4K that basicly weighs nothing that I've started carrying everywhere...
I'm not editing, but if you're bored, here are segments that lead up to Trail Camp...
You'll have the opportunity to learn some of the SAR Alternatives (because there are sections of the Main Trail that I can't stand hiking)...

(I'll edit to add descriptions of what the Parts cover...assuming I can edit...)


Part 1 Started from up behind the WPS and headed up the Old Trail.

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11


Started down from Trail Camp at Part 11...these are the descent (in case you're really, really, bored...)
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19

I did a quick look at each area , My concern is we have many that have trouble following the established trail and get lost a few feet off the trail , rescues often fail to locate lost hikers quickly off trail and several have become recoveries or they have failed to find the path out of Trailcamp/ Outpost or take the trail down to Lone Pine Lake then cliff out on the north side of the lake getting back to the main trail which you can see just below you But you don't see the creek and the rock/scree down climbs and if following the slab routes they can cliff out if you don't know the area very well . One can also run into ice one the slabs as you need to traverse from slab to slab (point of recoveries and rescues).

I would strongly suggest staying on the trail , experienced mountaineers will do fine on the north fork to cut the distance to 3.4 miles and experince the wilderness. the main trail was established and maintained to allow hikers with very little or no mountaineering skills to reach the summit and down ,off trail isn't part of that plan .

Thank you HikeAlongRichard.

Richard, Many thanks for your video log of the Main Trail including the 'off trail' shortcuts. Never had anyone to show me where they were it. Didn't get in enough trail time this year to attempt another Whitney summit day-hike. But am really looking forward to next year, particularly the Lone Pine Lake bypass.

Doug, As one who has taken advantage of the fact that the Main Trail was established to allow hikers with very little or no mountaineering skills to reach the summit and down under my own power many times, I second the strong suggestion of staying on the trail. Stuff happens! Especially important if you are hiking alone. Even with having stood on top of Trail Pass more than 20 times, I prefer sticking to the trail. I really don't want to find myself in need of rescue. Stay safe out there!

I'd suggest that the next time the FS Trail Crews are up there:
-Follow the "trail building" that I seemed to see a lot of in the National Parks...rocks (sometimes logs) lining areas that are not well defined...

A few spots that would be really helpful for Rookies heading down in the dark:
-The Cascade Turn below the Log Crossing (missing it leads to another of the SAR alternates that is REALLY complicated...I wouldn't show this one)...it's hard to get lost on the way up because you'll end up in the stream if you don't turn on the way up...
-A few of the turns below Trail Camp...you can see that things aren't well-defined because the are now multiple paths leading down...and it's easy to end up in the gully that leads down to Consultation Lake (which is an alternate I love)...where Rookies could have a REALLY BAD time...
-The Crossover onto the Ridge (above Mirror Lake/below Trailside Meadow)...when you cross the stream and need to make the left to stay on the trail, it is really easy to miss the left...

If I make it up there before the storms make it impossible, I'm going to try and take the time to make a few "shorts" that show these problem areas...and any more that I can think of...

In other countries, they paint arrows on the rock...I don't think that we want to get that rediculous, but adding a little more "guidance" could save a few SAR missions and maybe even someone's life...

And a BTW...
A few of the mapping companies are now providing Turn-by-Turn Navigation for trail riding/hiking...
Curious to try it...

Richard, I remember our hike, with you, BobR and Ron.

We came up the backside (from Horseshoe Meadows). With BobR leading the way, BobR took us down all the short cuts from the top to the Portal. That was my only complete shortcut route. Totally fun experience. I doubt I remember all of them now.

Thanks for sharing.

paul