Inyo National Forest: Whitney Portal to Mount Whitney (2 days / 21 miles)

Hello Reader,

Hope you're doing well this fine Thursday. This week's featured trip report is from a backpacking trip I did in August this year. I did a mini-trip report on my Instagram, but didn't share much about it with you here. This was perhaps the hardest backpacking trip I've done - and it was only a one-night trip. This was my first time hiking at such a high altitude and it really got to me. Nonetheless, it was beautiful and breathtaking (pun intended). I hope you enjoy this summary and find the full report useful!

Mikaela

​Click here to read the full trip report​

Ah, Mount Whitney. It’s one of the most famous – and most sought-after – hiking trails in the United States. Mount Whitney is the tallest peak in the Lower 48, standing at 14,505 feet. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to land a permit, in 2023 my group got an overnight permit for a Saturday at the end of August.

We car camped at Horseshoe Meadows (10,000 ft) the night before, then camped at Trail Camp (12,000 ft) on Saturday. We summited on Sunday morning and then made it all the way back to the car on Sunday evening. This trip was equally incredible as it was challenging (the definition of Type 2 fun).

Trip Summary

• Starting Point: Whitney Portal Trailhead
• Ending Point: Whitney Portal Trailhead
• Duration: 2 days
• Difficulty: Advanced
• Location: Inyo National Forest, John Muir Wilderness

​
The Most Challenging Part: Permits

Permits for Mount Whitney are issued through a lottery and it can be difficult to get one. According to the USDA, only 28% of permit applications are successful.

About half of the available permits are for the day hike. These hikers typically start at 2am and do the entire hike up and back down in a single day. I personally cannot fathom doing that. 1) I need more time to acclimate to the altitude. 2) That is so much elevation gain for a single day. Unless you are a hiking beast, I would not suggest attempting it as a day hike.

Better to allow for time to enjoy the experience. We spent an hour at the summit, taking in the view, taking photos with the Mount Whitney signs and signing the visitor book.

Tips for High-Altitude Hiking

Additional Items to Pack: As mentioned above, I strongly recommend bringing hiking poles and ice cleats / micro-spikes. There can be snow at the top of Whitney at any time of year, and these items will make it much safer to cross snowy/icy patches.

Be Careful with the Altitude: 14,000 feet is a lot! Take is easy and pace yourself. Ibuprofen, hydration and electrolytes help a lot. Someone in our group also brought canned oxygen, which I really liked (probably a placebo effect, but it still make my headache ease at the summit). Definitely don’t bring alcohol/cannibas.

Pack as Light as Possible: If there’s anytime to experiment with lightweight backpacking, it’s here. The elevation adds up quickly. My backpack wasn’t terribly heavy (31 lbs including 2L of water and food), but I wish it had been even lighter.

​Click here to read the full trip report​