Mt Whitney is most easily reached via highway 395. Lone Pine California hosts access to Mt Whitney, and
the town lies along the above mentioned highway. Once in Lone Pine, you can turn west on Whitney Portal
road, which is located in about the center of town. As you travel along this well paved road, you will be treated
to some of the most magnificent landscapes in all of California. The photo above is a sample of winter scenery
taken from the Alabama Hills just off the Whitney Portal road. Many mistake the prominent peak on the left as
Mt Whitney, but it is actually 12,944 Ft Lone Pine Peak. Mt Whitney is the broad faced peak located in the rear,
just right of center.
Hollywood made good use of all this rugged beauty, and used scenes such as above for backdrops for many of
their early western movies. Several of Lone Pine's local businesses have wonderful historic pictures of movie
stars and scenes that depict this early history on their walls for visitors and locals to enjoy. The Whitney Portal
road is a little over 12 miles in length, and ends at the Portal where the trailhead to Mt Whitney is located.
But if you have time and before you journey up the steep road to the trailhead, take time out to explore the town
of Lone Pine. Eat at the local restaurants, explore the Alabama foothills, make a complete outing out of it. And
just one more thing, don't forget your camera!
HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I SET ASIDE FOR MT WHITNEY?
The answer to the above question is.....well.. ..It depends. Many factors are involved. What month do you plan
to summit on? What physical condition are you and/or your entire party in? And on and on. So to answer the
above question, I will make it simple. Assents that are attempted during late fall, winter, and early spring (when
snow cover can be deep), will most certainly take far more time than summer assents. Few people attempt
Whitney during these months, and those who do are most likely very experienced mountaineers. Therefore, we
will discuss summer hikes up the Main Mt Whitney Trail.
If you are in excellent condition, you can do Mt Whitney in a day. Most people who attempt this, start very early
in the morning (usually around 3 to 4 AM). This gives them plenty of time to make the round trip. But even
though you will be out for only a day, make sure to bring enough clothing and emergency supplies. Weather can
change quickly on Mt Whitney. Also, do not forget to bring a good headlamp should you underestimate your
physical abilities and get caught out in the dark. Years ago, I read that the record hiking time for the Mt Whitney
Trail was approximately 2 hrs and 15 minutes. But this record must have been broken between then and now.
If you are not in stellar condition, than you will most likely have to turn your Mt Whitney outing into a backpack.
Most hike up to Trail Camp located 6 miles from the trailhead and spend a night there before going for the top
the next day. We talked to a Ranger on a recent trip, and he said that it usually takes people (in good condition)
about 6 hours to make the round trip from Trail Camp to the summit and back. For those in average condition, it
usually takes about eight hours. But these are only rough guidelines. It may take as much as 10 to 12 hours if
you are not feeling too well, or if you have slower members in your party. So be prepared and plan for the worst
if you are not sure of your abilities or the abilities of the people in your group. If you plan on going back down to
the trailhead the same day you summit, (and you can certainly do this if you have the energy) then your time
requirement on the mountain will be 2 days. On the other hand if you have the time you can relax and spend
another night out at Trail Camp, and hike out the following morning and make it a three day outing.
Lastly, there is the option of hiking to Outpost camp and spending a night there before hiking to Trail Camp the
next day. After another night out at Trail Camp you can then hike to the summit and back to your established
camp the following day. Finally, to complete the trip, you can return to the trailhead the following morning. This
is a 4 day excursion, but it has the advantage of maximizing acclimatization time to avoid altitude sickness. It also
affords a leisurely pace so that you can get the most enjoyment out of your experience on Mt Whitney.
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CLIMBING MT WHITNEY (Permits):
Wilderness permits are required year-round for all overnight trips on Mt Whitney. Day use wilderness permits
are required on the main Mt. Whitney Trail for hikes beyond Lone Pine Lake. Day hikes accessing Mt. Whitney
via the North Fork of Lone Pine creek are now requested to carry a North Fork of Lone Pine day hike permit. If
your trip will start from an Inyo National Forest.
COST: The cost for getting permits in advance for the Mt Whitney Zone is $15.00 per person. This is a
non-refundable fee. So should you decide to cancel your trip, you will not get your money back.
There is no problem obtaining a permit during the non-quota season on Mt Whitney (see below for quota period
information), and if you are planing to hike up Mt Whitney during this period, then all you have to due is pick up
a permit at one of the four locations listed below for no expense (since you are not obtaining a permit in
advance). The below locations are also used for picking up permits that you have arranged for in advance.
Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center White Mountain Ranger Station
Junction of Highway 395 and State Route 136 798 N. Main Street
2 miles south of Lone Pine, CA Bishop, CA 93514
(760) 876-6200 or TDD(760)876-6201 (760) 873-2500 or TDD (760) 873-2501
Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center
2500 Main Street P.O. Box 429 (North of Lee Vining on Hwy 395)
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 Lee Vining, CA 93541
(760) 924-5500 or TDD (760) 924-5531 (760) 647-3044 or TDD (760) 647-3045
During the non-quota period (November - April) the cold along with heavy snows will hinder all but the very
hardy from spending time on the mountain. Needless to say, very few people will be attempting Whitney's
summit during the above mentioned months, and this factor alone will limit the impact on the environment during
the non-quota period.
What is the Quota period for the Mt Whitney trail? It is from May 1st - November 1st. The quota is
designed to limit the number of people allowed on the trail. Each day 60 people can begin overnight backpacking
trips and 100 people can day hike to the summit. On top of this, 25 people are able to use the Trail Crest exit
space to end backpacking trips that began on other Inyo trails. The quota is NOT higher on weekends. The
quota is designed to protect the fragile mountain environment.
GETTING A PERMIT: The first permits during the quota period for Mt Whitney are issued via the lottery
system. But before we discuss the lottery process there are a couple of key factors that need to be mentioned.
Getting a permit during the quota period can be difficult on Mt Whitney. This is because space is limited and
there is a multitudes of people who apply for permits. Thus, the greater your group size the harder it will be to
get your desired entrance date. Another factor is the month you select for your trip. May, June, and October are
much easier months to get a permit for than July, August, or September. These aforementioned months are very
popular and therefore it is best to apply for several alternative dates on your application. This way you will have
the best possible chance for obtaining a permit.
What is the Lottery Process? The Mt. Whitney lottery in February is the first opportunity to reserve a
wilderness permit for the main Mt Whitney trail. To be accepted into the lottery you must use the "Mt Whitney
Lottery Only" application. The application must arrive by mail with a February postmark. It must be complete,
legible and include payment for reservation fees. The forest service will not accept lottery applications by fax,
phone, internet or email. Applications will be stirred together into random order as they are accepted. You must
be sure that your application is accurate and complete as lottery staff will not be able to revise or intercept
applications. Use post office certified mail with return receipt if you want proof your application arrived.
Telephone confirmation is not available. On February 15th the applications that have been accepted to date, will
be thoroughly stirred to assure random order and processing will begin. Applications are drawn at random. When
your application is drawn a reservation will be made if quota space is available on entry dates you requested. List
alternate dates in order of preference. Applications accepted after February 15th are mixed into the same ongoing
lottery at the end of each business day. Applications postmarked in February that arrive in March will still be
accepted. The process of considering every application usually takes five to six weeks.
What if I miss the February Lottery:
If you are unable to get a permit during the lottery period, you will need to check the availability for spots that
were not reserved during the lottery process. The following Forest Service Site provides a chart that will let you
know about the dates which are open, and will provide you with a link as to how to obtain a permit for them.
Further Information on Permits: If you should need more information on the above process, you can call
760-873-2483, or you can click Here for the Forest Service Website that includes all the above information, and
a whole lot more.
the town lies along the above mentioned highway. Once in Lone Pine, you can turn west on Whitney Portal
road, which is located in about the center of town. As you travel along this well paved road, you will be treated
to some of the most magnificent landscapes in all of California. The photo above is a sample of winter scenery
taken from the Alabama Hills just off the Whitney Portal road. Many mistake the prominent peak on the left as
Mt Whitney, but it is actually 12,944 Ft Lone Pine Peak. Mt Whitney is the broad faced peak located in the rear,
just right of center.
Hollywood made good use of all this rugged beauty, and used scenes such as above for backdrops for many of
their early western movies. Several of Lone Pine's local businesses have wonderful historic pictures of movie
stars and scenes that depict this early history on their walls for visitors and locals to enjoy. The Whitney Portal
road is a little over 12 miles in length, and ends at the Portal where the trailhead to Mt Whitney is located.
But if you have time and before you journey up the steep road to the trailhead, take time out to explore the town
of Lone Pine. Eat at the local restaurants, explore the Alabama foothills, make a complete outing out of it. And
just one more thing, don't forget your camera!
HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I SET ASIDE FOR MT WHITNEY?
The answer to the above question is.....well.. ..It depends. Many factors are involved. What month do you plan
to summit on? What physical condition are you and/or your entire party in? And on and on. So to answer the
above question, I will make it simple. Assents that are attempted during late fall, winter, and early spring (when
snow cover can be deep), will most certainly take far more time than summer assents. Few people attempt
Whitney during these months, and those who do are most likely very experienced mountaineers. Therefore, we
will discuss summer hikes up the Main Mt Whitney Trail.
If you are in excellent condition, you can do Mt Whitney in a day. Most people who attempt this, start very early
in the morning (usually around 3 to 4 AM). This gives them plenty of time to make the round trip. But even
though you will be out for only a day, make sure to bring enough clothing and emergency supplies. Weather can
change quickly on Mt Whitney. Also, do not forget to bring a good headlamp should you underestimate your
physical abilities and get caught out in the dark. Years ago, I read that the record hiking time for the Mt Whitney
Trail was approximately 2 hrs and 15 minutes. But this record must have been broken between then and now.
If you are not in stellar condition, than you will most likely have to turn your Mt Whitney outing into a backpack.
Most hike up to Trail Camp located 6 miles from the trailhead and spend a night there before going for the top
the next day. We talked to a Ranger on a recent trip, and he said that it usually takes people (in good condition)
about 6 hours to make the round trip from Trail Camp to the summit and back. For those in average condition, it
usually takes about eight hours. But these are only rough guidelines. It may take as much as 10 to 12 hours if
you are not feeling too well, or if you have slower members in your party. So be prepared and plan for the worst
if you are not sure of your abilities or the abilities of the people in your group. If you plan on going back down to
the trailhead the same day you summit, (and you can certainly do this if you have the energy) then your time
requirement on the mountain will be 2 days. On the other hand if you have the time you can relax and spend
another night out at Trail Camp, and hike out the following morning and make it a three day outing.
Lastly, there is the option of hiking to Outpost camp and spending a night there before hiking to Trail Camp the
next day. After another night out at Trail Camp you can then hike to the summit and back to your established
camp the following day. Finally, to complete the trip, you can return to the trailhead the following morning. This
is a 4 day excursion, but it has the advantage of maximizing acclimatization time to avoid altitude sickness. It also
affords a leisurely pace so that you can get the most enjoyment out of your experience on Mt Whitney.
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CLIMBING MT WHITNEY (Permits):
Wilderness permits are required year-round for all overnight trips on Mt Whitney. Day use wilderness permits
are required on the main Mt. Whitney Trail for hikes beyond Lone Pine Lake. Day hikes accessing Mt. Whitney
via the North Fork of Lone Pine creek are now requested to carry a North Fork of Lone Pine day hike permit. If
your trip will start from an Inyo National Forest.
COST: The cost for getting permits in advance for the Mt Whitney Zone is $15.00 per person. This is a
non-refundable fee. So should you decide to cancel your trip, you will not get your money back.
There is no problem obtaining a permit during the non-quota season on Mt Whitney (see below for quota period
information), and if you are planing to hike up Mt Whitney during this period, then all you have to due is pick up
a permit at one of the four locations listed below for no expense (since you are not obtaining a permit in
advance). The below locations are also used for picking up permits that you have arranged for in advance.
Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center White Mountain Ranger Station
Junction of Highway 395 and State Route 136 798 N. Main Street
2 miles south of Lone Pine, CA Bishop, CA 93514
(760) 876-6200 or TDD(760)876-6201 (760) 873-2500 or TDD (760) 873-2501
Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center
2500 Main Street P.O. Box 429 (North of Lee Vining on Hwy 395)
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 Lee Vining, CA 93541
(760) 924-5500 or TDD (760) 924-5531 (760) 647-3044 or TDD (760) 647-3045
During the non-quota period (November - April) the cold along with heavy snows will hinder all but the very
hardy from spending time on the mountain. Needless to say, very few people will be attempting Whitney's
summit during the above mentioned months, and this factor alone will limit the impact on the environment during
the non-quota period.
What is the Quota period for the Mt Whitney trail? It is from May 1st - November 1st. The quota is
designed to limit the number of people allowed on the trail. Each day 60 people can begin overnight backpacking
trips and 100 people can day hike to the summit. On top of this, 25 people are able to use the Trail Crest exit
space to end backpacking trips that began on other Inyo trails. The quota is NOT higher on weekends. The
quota is designed to protect the fragile mountain environment.
GETTING A PERMIT: The first permits during the quota period for Mt Whitney are issued via the lottery
system. But before we discuss the lottery process there are a couple of key factors that need to be mentioned.
Getting a permit during the quota period can be difficult on Mt Whitney. This is because space is limited and
there is a multitudes of people who apply for permits. Thus, the greater your group size the harder it will be to
get your desired entrance date. Another factor is the month you select for your trip. May, June, and October are
much easier months to get a permit for than July, August, or September. These aforementioned months are very
popular and therefore it is best to apply for several alternative dates on your application. This way you will have
the best possible chance for obtaining a permit.
What is the Lottery Process? The Mt. Whitney lottery in February is the first opportunity to reserve a
wilderness permit for the main Mt Whitney trail. To be accepted into the lottery you must use the "Mt Whitney
Lottery Only" application. The application must arrive by mail with a February postmark. It must be complete,
legible and include payment for reservation fees. The forest service will not accept lottery applications by fax,
phone, internet or email. Applications will be stirred together into random order as they are accepted. You must
be sure that your application is accurate and complete as lottery staff will not be able to revise or intercept
applications. Use post office certified mail with return receipt if you want proof your application arrived.
Telephone confirmation is not available. On February 15th the applications that have been accepted to date, will
be thoroughly stirred to assure random order and processing will begin. Applications are drawn at random. When
your application is drawn a reservation will be made if quota space is available on entry dates you requested. List
alternate dates in order of preference. Applications accepted after February 15th are mixed into the same ongoing
lottery at the end of each business day. Applications postmarked in February that arrive in March will still be
accepted. The process of considering every application usually takes five to six weeks.
What if I miss the February Lottery:
If you are unable to get a permit during the lottery period, you will need to check the availability for spots that
were not reserved during the lottery process. The following Forest Service Site provides a chart that will let you
know about the dates which are open, and will provide you with a link as to how to obtain a permit for them.
Further Information on Permits: If you should need more information on the above process, you can call
760-873-2483, or you can click Here for the Forest Service Website that includes all the above information, and
a whole lot more.
Mt Whitney - Getting Started timberlinetrails.net
Photo by Sean French
Photo by Sean French
Unusual view looking east to the Inyo mountains from high up in the Alabama Hills.
These hills make up a good part of the Mt Whitney foothills, and as mentioned above,
are well worth exploring. They offer fantastic photographic opportunities for not only
photographing Mt Whitney but also for photographing the beautiful landscapes that
make up the entire area.
These hills make up a good part of the Mt Whitney foothills, and as mentioned above,
are well worth exploring. They offer fantastic photographic opportunities for not only
photographing Mt Whitney but also for photographing the beautiful landscapes that
make up the entire area.
Whitney Links
Base Camp
Getting Started
Trailhead
Trail Guide
High Camp
Trail Crest
East Face Route
Summit
Aerial View
Whitney Video
Whitney Slide Show
Current Weather
For Additional peaks and
information on the Sierra
Nevada. Click Here.
Or for a Photo Gallery
featuring the Sierra range.
Click Here.
Base Camp
Getting Started
Trailhead
Trail Guide
High Camp
Trail Crest
East Face Route
Summit
Aerial View
Whitney Video
Whitney Slide Show
Current Weather
For Additional peaks and
information on the Sierra
Nevada. Click Here.
Or for a Photo Gallery
featuring the Sierra range.
Click Here.
Plenty of shops in the little town of Lone Pine (located
at the base of Whitney) ready to sell you a cool
T-Shirt that will congratulate you on your successful
hike up Mount Whitney.
If you have the time, exploring the little town of Lone
Pine at the base of Mt Whitney is certainly worth while.
Many of the business establishments are geared for
Mt Whitney visitors.
Many western movies of the past were filmed in the
Alabama Hills and surrounding areas. And if you eat
at one of the local cafes, such as the Mt Whitney
Cafe, you will see signed photos on the wall of many
movies stars of the past.
We usually have breakfast in Lone Pine and
experience the area before going up to the Portal and
setting off on our adventure on Mt Whitney.
at the base of Whitney) ready to sell you a cool
T-Shirt that will congratulate you on your successful
hike up Mount Whitney.
If you have the time, exploring the little town of Lone
Pine at the base of Mt Whitney is certainly worth while.
Many of the business establishments are geared for
Mt Whitney visitors.
Many western movies of the past were filmed in the
Alabama Hills and surrounding areas. And if you eat
at one of the local cafes, such as the Mt Whitney
Cafe, you will see signed photos on the wall of many
movies stars of the past.
We usually have breakfast in Lone Pine and
experience the area before going up to the Portal and
setting off on our adventure on Mt Whitney.
Top and bottom corner views showing the Whitney Portal
street signs. If you are paying attention, you can't miss the turn
off highway 395. The above sign pointing the way west to the
beginning of your adventure.
street signs. If you are paying attention, you can't miss the turn
off highway 395. The above sign pointing the way west to the
beginning of your adventure.
Once in the town of Lone Pine there is
only 13 miles to go in order to reach the
trail head.
only 13 miles to go in order to reach the
trail head.
Click Here to Watch our Mt Whitney Video
For More Photos &Further Information On Mt Whitney Please Check Out The Below Links
Base Camp Trailhead Trail Guide High Camp
Trail Crest East Face Route Summit Aerial View
Whitney Slide Show
For Additional peaks and information on the Sierra Nevada. Click HERE.
For a Photo Gallery featuring the Sierra range. Click HERE.
Or if you are looking for answers to the deeper things in life, try the Ultimate Journey
Base Camp Trailhead Trail Guide High Camp
Trail Crest East Face Route Summit Aerial View
Whitney Slide Show
For Additional peaks and information on the Sierra Nevada. Click HERE.
For a Photo Gallery featuring the Sierra range. Click HERE.
Or if you are looking for answers to the deeper things in life, try the Ultimate Journey