Mt. Whitney

Mount Whitney - One Day Trip 2002
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Back to Mt. Whitney Best with your screen set to at least 800 x 600.

Stephanie and Dad did a day hike up Mt. Whitney July 7, 2002. We planned to take our time, so we started at 11:30 at night. Hiking at night with Moonlight LED headlamps worked great and beat the heat of the climb. We could hear waterfalls but usually not see them, and our focus was centered on the little things along the trail, like a neat tree or a clump of wildflowers. Around 5:30 we enjoyed sunrise from Trail Camp at 12,000, then summited at 9:30. We spent about an hour on top to enjoy the view and cook lunch, and returned leisurely to the car at 4:30 that afternoon. We carried about 2 liters of water in a hydration bladder with an inline filter so we could fill the bags as we hiked. The trail is 11 miles each way with over 6,500 feet of climbing.

I ran up to Lone Pine Lake the day before to check out the trail and help get acclimated.
Since the lake is a few 100 yards off the trail, many hikers don't go there. If you walk around to the far side of the lake there's a great view down the hill.

Bighorn Park is a large meadow about 3-1/2 miles up.
A crossing of Lone Pine Creek just before Lone Pine Lake.
Hiking by headlamp
We started hiking at 11:30 so we would enter the wilderness at midnight when our permit began. The Moonlight LED headlamps gave a lot of light (Photo computer enhanced though :-) ) Sunrise at Trail Camp
When we hit Trail Camp at 12,000' around 5:30 the sun was starting to come up.

So we took a few pictures. Trail Camp from the switchbacks at sunrise
As we climbed towards Trail Crest we were able to turn off our headlamps and see Trail Camp be light up by the sun.
The cables
The 'infamous' cables were basically clear of snow.
This is where we had an ice fall to cross two years ago. Between the warmer weather melting the snow away and trail reconstruction from last year, the crossing was noneventful this year.

Finally we could see Mt. Whitney. It was too dark earlier.
Climbing above Trail Camp.

Looking back to the cables above Trail Camp, with Consultation Lake to the right.
The final climb to the summit. The only snow crossing was the short one on the ridge, and it had a good track cut into it.

Obligatory summit pose.
Iceberg Lake below the East Face. Site of next year's base camp?

Looking down from the summit back towards Lone Pine.
Tulainyo Lake from the summit.

Sitting with your feet dangling over 1,000 feet of cliff.
The Great Western Divide in Sequoia National Park to the west.
Guitar Lake
Name that lake. You only get one guess.
The Kaweah Peaks from the summit.

Heading down the trail.
Trail Crest.

Cooling off at Trailside Meadow. It was dark here on the way up when we met a couple people resting in the dark.
Trailside Meadow.

Back to Mt. Whitney

I ran up to Lone Pine Lake the day before to check out the trail and help get acclimated.	Since the lake is a few 100 yards off the trail, many hikers don't go there. If you walk around to the far side of the lake there's a great view down the hill.
Bighorn Park is a large meadow about 3-1/2 miles up.	A crossing of Lone Pine Creek just before Lone Pine Lake.
We started hiking at 11:30 so we would enter the wilderness at midnight when our permit began. The Moonlight LED headlamps gave a lot of light (Photo computer enhanced though :-) )	When we hit Trail Camp at 12,000' around 5:30 the sun was starting to come up.
So we took a few pictures.	As we climbed towards Trail Crest we were able to turn off our headlamps and see Trail Camp be light up by the sun.
The 'infamous' cables were basically clear of snow.	This is where we had an ice fall to cross two years ago. Between the warmer weather melting the snow away and trail reconstruction from last year, the crossing was noneventful this year.
Finally we could see Mt. Whitney. It was too dark earlier.	Climbing above Trail Camp.
Looking back to the cables above Trail Camp, with Consultation Lake to the right.	The final climb to the summit. The only snow crossing was the short one on the ridge, and it had a good track cut into it.
Obligatory summit pose.	Iceberg Lake below the East Face. Site of next year's base camp?
Looking down from the summit back towards Lone Pine.	Tulainyo Lake from the summit.
Sitting with your feet dangling over 1,000 feet of cliff.	The Great Western Divide in Sequoia National Park to the west.
Name that lake. You only get one guess.	The Kaweah Peaks from the summit.
Heading down the trail.	Trail Crest.
Cooling off at Trailside Meadow. It was dark here on the way up when we met a couple people resting in the dark.	Trailside Meadow.