Let me be honest. This was not my favorite hike-- not even close. I don't even know what the first few miles actually look like (I had my headlamp on both ways) & no sane person can be thrilled about using a WAG bag (minus 1 star). But were the 7+ months of training & planning & having to poop in a bag worth reaching the highest point in the contiguous U.S.? HELL YES.
For the February lottery, I only selected weekdays during July & August (the most popular months) & tried to be flexible by requesting 3 consecutive days & then giving a date range. I was given my first choice-- July 28th-- for my group of 5. Keep in mind that this wet winter may affect early summer conditions.
I found gear to be one of the most difficult aspects of this trip. I couldn't continue to ignore the severe foot pain from my trail runners so I had to buy new ones. It'd difficult to find the right combination for each person but I highly recommend REI (where I found a new discontinued Osprey daypack for only $10!), which has an amazing return policy.
My group deemed the 11k mark (somewhere along the 99 switchbacks) the point of no return. During the final 2 miles (which always feel the longest), cold-averse S was so cold he wanted to turn back so PCT-veteran J gave him his windbreaker & he hiked in 40-degrees in a base layer! So wear synthetics, layers, & bring a windbreaker!
Since I live in the vicinity of the San Gabriel Mountains, my friends & I were able to do a sufficient amount of training. We also camped at Sequoia & Yosemite to acclimate to higher elevations & ensure camping efficiency (which is important if you plan to start in the 2am pitch darkness).
Once we reached Lone Pines, we picked up our permits & WAG bags then found a campsite at Whitney Portal. After failed attempts to devour Whitney Portal Store's giant pancake (seriously larger than your head), I experienced severe altitude sickness & was out of commission on day 2. Unlike other campgrounds, Whitney Portal doesn't enforce specific hours for fires. Poor J & D were forced to retreat to the car to escape the suffocating smoke.
When we awoke prior to 2am, I saw something big & black beside the bear locker & greeted it with, "Hi doggy." J looked horrified & said, "That's not a dog! That's a bear." Luckily, the cub scurried off but it returned later that night. Beware of bears! They are not to be mistaken for big dogs! :p
My pack weighed in at 17 lbs at 2:20am. As a girl, I don't like how the 99 switchbacks had no coverage so when you're left to pee in open view of the dayhikers & backpackers. We filtered at Trail Camp & summited at 12:17pm, signed the register, & hid from the cold in the hut. The last two miles are rock-covered & upside down (downhill going & uphill coming back) which was pure misery. We didn't drop off our WAG bags until nearly 18 hrs after we started.
Thanks to the boys who helped me reach my goal: summit Whitney before 30!
For the February lottery, I only selected weekdays during July & August (the most popular months) & tried to be flexible by requesting 3 consecutive days & then giving a date range. I was given my first choice-- July 28th-- for my group of 5. Keep in mind that this wet winter may affect early summer conditions.
I found gear to be one of the most difficult aspects of this trip. I couldn't continue to ignore the severe foot pain from my trail runners so I had to buy new ones. It'd difficult to find the right combination for each person but I highly recommend REI (where I found a new discontinued Osprey daypack for only $10!), which has an amazing return policy.
My group deemed the 11k mark (somewhere along the 99 switchbacks) the point of no return. During the final 2 miles (which always feel the longest), cold-averse S was so cold he wanted to turn back so PCT-veteran J gave him his windbreaker & he hiked in 40-degrees in a base layer! So wear synthetics, layers, & bring a windbreaker!
Since I live in the vicinity of the San Gabriel Mountains, my friends & I were able to do a sufficient amount of training. We also camped at Sequoia & Yosemite to acclimate to higher elevations & ensure camping efficiency (which is important if you plan to start in the 2am pitch darkness).
Once we reached Lone Pines, we picked up our permits & WAG bags then found a campsite at Whitney Portal. After failed attempts to devour Whitney Portal Store's giant pancake (seriously larger than your head), I experienced severe altitude sickness & was out of commission on day 2. Unlike other campgrounds, Whitney Portal doesn't enforce specific hours for fires. Poor J & D were forced to retreat to the car to escape the suffocating smoke.
When we awoke prior to 2am, I saw something big & black beside the bear locker & greeted it with, "Hi doggy." J looked horrified & said, "That's not a dog! That's a bear." Luckily, the cub scurried off but it returned later that night. Beware of bears! They are not to be mistaken for big dogs! :p
My pack weighed in at 17 lbs at 2:20am. As a girl, I don't like how the 99 switchbacks had no coverage so when you're left to pee in open view of the dayhikers & backpackers. We filtered at Trail Camp & summited at 12:17pm, signed the register, & hid from the cold in the hut. The last two miles are rock-covered & upside down (downhill going & uphill coming back) which was pure misery. We didn't drop off our WAG bags until nearly 18 hrs after we started.
Thanks to the boys who helped me reach my goal: summit Whitney before 30!
