Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Best place for first camp location??

Jeffrey,

I've used the same approach as Kashcraft. Just cross-country from the main trail to the lake. I've found little use trails leaving the lake, but never seem to remember where they connect by the time I return...

I have stayed overnight at both Outpost and Trail Camp on separate summit trips in August. The first trip we left the trailhead around 7:00 AM and reached Trail Camp around 11:30 AM. I was totally exhausted from carrying a 30 pound backpack but enjoyed the rest of the day watching and talking with hikers going up and down the trail. Staying at Trail Camp is an alpine experience. The summit view of Mount Muir and Whitney from Trail Camp was enjoyable. At night it got a little cold but was manageable. We left the next morning for the summit around 6:30 AM and made it to the top at 9:30 AM. Unlike the afternoon heat, the early crispy cold morning air made it easier for me to maintain a constant pace. I felt strong throughout the hike up the summit and back to Trail Camp. After taking a short rest and packing up our gear, we made it back to the Portal parking around 4:00 PM. The last two miles back to the Portal seem like 100 miles.

Last summer, we picked up our permit and bear canister at 10:30 AM, left the trailhead at 1:30 PM and made it to Outpost Camp at 4:00 PM. It was a nice and effortless hike and this time I was carrying only about 24 pounds in my backpack. Unlike Trail Camp, there's plenty of shady tent sites at Outpost and it was easier to obtain more reliable water. At night, it seem too warm with my 30 degree sleeping bag. We woke up at 4:00 AM to the noise of day hikers heading up the trail and asking us "Is this the right way up?". We started our hike at 4:30 AM. Without the sun beating on us, it was refreshing and interesting to hike in the dark without flashlights. We made it to Trail Camp at 6:30 AM. After resting for 45 minutes, we started our trek for the summit. Halfway between Trail Crest and the summit, I ran out of gas and felt sick. I took many breaks and constantly drank water and attempted to eat energy food. Every step was getting more difficult for me and I was ready to turn back when my head felt strange. I was beginning to suffer from the altitude sickness. It was upsetting for me since I grew up in Colorado and day hiked many fourteeners. I eventually made it to the top at 10:40 AM and started to feel great. The headaches disappeared and it felt good to relax and enjoy the view from the summit. By the time we made it back to Trail Camp, I was too exhausted to move so we had to rest for awhile. I didn't think I could make it to Outpost Camp but as we were heading further down I began to feel stronger. After we packed up our tents and backpacking gear at Outpost Camp, my buddies took some of my load and we made it back to the parking lot at around 6:00 PM. Once again, the last two miles were tough for me.

Even though we acclimated at high altitude several days prior to the Whitney hike on both trips, I really think for me, staying overnight at Trail Camp made a BIG difference in my ability to deal with the summit hike and carry my backpacking equipment back to the Portal.

This summer, we are planning to stay overnight at Outpost Camp, take our time the next day to Trail Camp, stay overnight, head up early in the morning to the summit and camp at Outpost Camp for a relaxing last night on the mountain.

There is a trail to Consultation Lake, but non-intuitively, it's after you've passed it just as you're reaching Trail Camp, so I'm not surprised that folks just cross country over to it instead.

On the OC vs TC (vs Trail Crest) debate, I would lean to TC on the first night to get a bit higher and closer to the summit and OC on the next. Outpost is beautiful and much more the outdoors experience and the waterfall is just lovely.

Trail Camp has nice views and I like the social interaction and I personally find it very entertaining answering newbie questions like "which one is Whitney?" (Which as we know, is not that obvious.)

Ellen

Trailcamp (12,000) worked well for the overnight stay last year. It made the summit day cake. The terrain is stark, but therein is the beauty of the Sierra. Don't arrive too early in the day at Trailcamp, as there is no shade and you'll bake in the sun. By the same token, bring a warm sleeping bag, as the winds come through there pretty strong, despite the little rock shelters that our predecessors have built.

I believe the original post wanted something to place on the permit, as I remember you do not have to camp at the location listed on the permit. There are so many factors effecting the ability to reach that goal that the Forest Service only uses it as a check point should they have to find your party. It gives them an idea of your intended route. On my frist trip (1980) which was in October we camped on a small clear area just big enough for our tent in the boulders between the campgrounds. Someone else had constructed a wind bread with smaller rocks. We spent 2 nights riding out high winds and snow squalls.

On Whitney it is almost standard to list "Trail Camp" on the permit. As for where to actually camp there are pluses and minuses to both "Outpost" and "Trail Camp." It appears they are being well cover by the others.