At 14, 506 ft, Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the continental U.S., so acclimating is key. We worked remotely from Mammoth (8,000 ft), spent a night camping at 10,000 ft and another at Whitney Portal (8,000 ft) before attempting our big climb. On our way up, we saw at least three people heading back down due to altitude sickness. The elevation is no joke!
The climb is made up of three stages. The first 6 miles and 4,000 ft is up to Trail Camp, where backpackers lucky enough to grab a permit can camp. Then it’s another 1,000 ft up 99 switchbacks (there are really 99–we counted!). Then it’s the last two miles and final 1,000 feet. We left at 2:00 AM and submitted at 10:30 AM. We hung out at the top for 30 minutes or so and then headed back down, arriving back at Whitney Portal at 5:00. So it look us 8.5 to climb and 6 hours to descend.
The sign at Whitney Portal warns that getting to the summit only half the journey. You have to come back down. It was taxing climbing the 11-miles to the top. But it was arguably more grueling to have to come back down. Hiking poles are key to saving knees and toes!
You all are so amazing. As an aside…Bora, what hiking boots are you wearing these days? Would you buy them again (when they wear out)?