How Long Does It Take To Hike Mt Whitney

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How Long Does It Take to Climb Mt Whitney?

So, yous've been an avid hiker for a while and are thinking almost taking a really epic adventure, maybe climbing the highest peak in the U.South. proper? You lot may be surprised to learn that the highest peak in the U.S. (at least the 48 face-to-face states) is in fact Not in the Rockies. It lies about smack-dab in the eye of California, bordering between the Inyo National Woods and Sequoia National Park. (Likewise, interestingly, this point is only about 90 miles away from the everyman point in the lower 48 in Expiry Valley National Park.) Mount Whitney, located in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range, towers (and continues to grow) at fourteen,505 feet. Surprisingly, you don't need any special mountain climbing gear to tiptop this majestic peak. If y'all've reached this article, and so you're probably wondering just how long it takes to climb Mt Whitney. That's what nosotros're hither to reply, so let's get started!

So, how long does information technology have to climb Mount Whitney? In a nutshell, it just depends on how long yous want to have. Depending on your determination, yous tin complete this in a long day hike, ranging from speedy at 8 hours, an intermediate pace at thirteen hours, or 18 hours circular trip for those taking a leisurely footstep. (These are estimates, listen you. You know what shape you are in and how well you lot tin handle tough terrain better than anyone.) Or, you lot can complete this in a two-day (or more than) overnight trip, spending the night at 1 of the iv established camps along the trail. Lonely Pino Lake is 2.viii miles in, Outpost at 3.8 miles, Consultation Lake (which is most the next, and most pop, one), and Trail Military camp at 6 miles in. (Important note: The Lone Pine Lake Camp is not within the Mt. Whitney permit area, but yous will still need an overnight Mt. Whitney let to camp there. More than on permits in a minute.)

Existence the highest betoken in the 48 continental U.S. states and 22 miles in length round trip, the hike to and from the summit of Mountain Whitney is, not surprisingly, rated every bit very difficult. Even though you don't need any special rock climbing or mountaineering gear, it gives even hikers in nifty concrete status a run for their money. Luckily, the Mount Whitney Trail starts at around 7,500 feet in a higher place sea level (since you are already in the Sierras) and gains an elevation of 6,960 anxiety, making this hike not seem quite so daunting.

Tips and Fun Facts

If doing this as a day hike, it is suggested to start before dawn to permit yourself ample time to complete it before sundown. Even and so, depending on how chop-chop you make the hike, you lot may terminate up hiking in the night for a bit.
The best fourth dimension to hike the Mount Whitney trail is betwixt July and September (There is less to no chance of snow in the higher elevations at this time of year.)
As already stated, Mount Whitney is special because information technology is the highest peak in the 48 contiguous states. It also happens to prevarication at the southern end of the famous 200 mile long John Muir Trail. You tin can besides reach the Pacific Crest Trail and High Sierra Trail in this surface area, among many other trails.
While it should go without saying, e'er make sure to have a First Aid Kit at your disposal during any outdoor activity.

A Word Well-nigh Permits

Special permits are required to hike upwards Mountain Whitney, whether you're planning a day hike or spending the nighttime, permits are required for each. It's worth noting that you have a meliorate take a chance of gaining/winning a day use permit than an overnight one for the "quota season". They hold a lottery for permits to hike during this time. The lottery is open from February one^st to March 15^th, with the results published on March 24^thursday. Quota season limits the number of people per day who are hiking on Mt.Whitney. The flavor is from May 1^st through November 1^st. You lot tin obtain a let at the visitor's eye any other time of the yr without having to become through the lottery…But the weather tin can be unpredictable, as you can imagine, this time of yr and only very experienced hikers/climbers should probably effort it during the "off flavour".

In example you're wondering, aye, there are divide quotas for twenty-four hour period use and overnight permits/hikers. 100 twenty-four hour period use hikers are allowed per day in the Mt.Whitney Zone and only 60 are issued per twenty-four hours for overnight users during the quota season. If y'all're planning on traveling with a grouping, yous should know this is express equally well to 15 people max. The group size limits are non-discriminatory and utilize all year circular to both day utilise and overnight hikers.

Now, if you're anything like me (read: a trivial bit of a rebel), you may be feeling a lilliputian put off past all of these rules. Yous only desire to get out and take an ballsy hazard, correct? Merely, information technology actually makes sense if you think about information technology in these terms:

The powers that be are most likely limiting the usage considering they want to decrease the impact that nosotros humans are having on this natural landscape and so that more than nature lovers and hikers tin enjoy it for years to come! (Plus, if I were to guess, they are probably as well using the lottery organization as a way to keep those less experienced and wanting to trek upwards this mount on a whim at bay considering the fact remains, it is a grueling hike, even for the fittest amongst us! 14,000+ feet is nothing to sneeze at!)

Nosotros've all been here: Nosotros're super excited about this great hike/backpacking trip we have planned, right? The solar day finally arrives and we leave on the trail to find…a agglomeration of other people. Kind of takes away from the experience, doesn't it? Moreover, who wants to "fight" over the best campsites forth the trail or fifty-fifty continue hiking on to locate another one afterwards a long, tiring day of walking? When you think about it this way, it's actually kind of nice that yous can expect only and then many people along your route upwardly Mt.Whitney, especially with it being a in one case in a lifetime experience for almost of united states of america!

Altitude Sickness and WAG Bags

Fifty-fifty though 19,000 some hikers attempt Mt.Whitney each year, it is very much a challenging hike. Beingness the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, the altitude of this location presents special challenges. It is important to prepare and get acclimated to distance changes ahead of time, possibly by going on shorter hikes that also climb into higher altitudes. Barring that or if y'all are prone to distance sickness, it may too be prudent to effort and go admission to an overnight allow so that y'all can stay at one of the camps overnight, allowing yourself more time to get acclimated to the higher altitude.

Ah, the historic period old question of how to dispose of waste while out in the wilderness. For a long time, varying types of toilets/outhouses were tried along the Mt.Whitney trail and summit. (A helicopter flew iv,000lbs of waste off of the mountain each year! Tin y'all imagine?!) Needless to say, none proved to be viable solutions, and then, in 2004, hikers were asked to carry their ain waste material out in what are known as WAG bags (which are included with your allow fee). These are basically large, glorified trash bags that hikers can do their business organization in and so carry dorsum and deposit in the appropriate waste containers next to the bath at the trailhead. Kind of a hurting in the barrel (pun intended), but you lot have to acknowledge it'due south a much more eco-friendly style of disposing of waste than having a bunch of poo all over the mountain or operating helicopters to pick it upwards.

How Long Does Information technology Take to Climb Mt Whitney - Conclusion

While Mount Whitney does take a agglomeration of "hoops" to jump through equally far as acquiring permits goes, it is definitely worth the trip if you're ready. Only recall to exist smart: Cheque the weather for multiple altitudes, non just at the base of the mount, go when weather condition are favorable (accidents do happen and there have been casualties in the off flavor), get in shape as much as possible in accelerate, and prepare yourself for altitude changes. If you're looking for fifty-fifty more adventure, check out our articles "Virtually Pop Hikes in Glacier National Park" and "5 of the Best Adirondacks Backpacking Loops". Happy hiking!

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