Mount Whitney

The question is: Do I day hike Mount Whiteny or should I spend the night at one of its high trail camps? The choice between these two options require different wilderness permits with the overnight camp being much harder to get.

I have hiked it both ways and I much prefer the trail camp. The day hike can be an 18 hour ordeal. The Whitney trail seem to be a feet killer and the twenty plus miles on this trail in one day is very hard on the body and especially the feet.

On the overnight trip we camped at trail camp which is about 12,000 feet and arose at 2:30 AM so we could get to the top for sunrise. It was a beautiful sight. Upon returning to the camp we hiked out but I would have preferred to have spend a second night and hiked out the next day. There is really no reason to be in such a hurry.

We reserved a campsite at Whitney Portal for the whole trip where we spent the 1st night and left the extra gear locked up in one of site's steel bear boxes. This campsite was also reserved for every night so if anyone got sick they would have a place to stray upon their decent.

Mount Whitney is rough, beautiful country and of course it is the highest place in the 48 states.

Mount Whitney

View from Mount Whitney