Mt. Whitney Summit 2023 | Backpacking from Horsehoe Meadow to Whitney Portal
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- čas přidán 13. 07. 2024
- AllTrails: www.alltrails.com/explore/rec...
Brief recap: We acquired permits early in the year. It took some persistance, but we finally got them. This is the hardest part!
We monitored weather and snow conditions in the days leading up to the trip. Lingering snow in some areas made us decide to rent crampons and ice axes from Sage to Summit in Bishop, Ca. We found some local snow slopes where we could practice self arresting. Turns out we didn't need the gear but it was better to have it than not.
We drove from Reno to Horseshoe Meadows and camped at the trailhead there in the backpacker's camp ($6 per site). We set off the following morning.
Pretty much this entire route is at an elevation over 10,000', so fatigue and lack of appetite were always a factor. None of us really suffered acute altitude sickness, however. Staying hydrated and taking ibuprofen probably helped.
Mosquitoes were present, but not horrendous. Probably a 3 or 4 out of 10 in terms of severity.
There were a few water crossings to contend with. Since this was a record snowfall year it's hard to know if they would be present in normal years in mid-August.
Getting to the summit of Mt. Langley is a side trip that is not necessary, but since it's right there we decided to give it a go. The descent from Langley to our campsite at Rock Creek involved some route-finding and bushwhacking. The campsite was actually pretty nice and even included a bear box.
We started the Whitney Summit very early to mitigate the risk of thunderstorms and since we knew it would be a long day. It was a wise choice. The descent is very long and rocky. We were comfortable crossing the snow fields with poles and boots, but others might feel more comfortable with spikes or crampons. We camped at Whitney Portal for one night after we finished and drove home the next day.
Whitney Portal has a gift shop / cafe where they serve burgers, fries, pancakes, coffee, etc...
Intro: (0:00)
Day 1 - Horseshoe Meadow to High Lake: (1:46)
Day 2 - High Lake to Rock Creek Lake: (8:38)
Day 3 - Rock Creek Lake to Crabtree Meadows: (15:59)
Day 4 - Crabtree Meadows to Guitar Lake: (23:37)
Day 5 - Guitar Lake to Whitney Portal: (28:31)
What a great trip. Thanks for taking the time to share.
You are welcome. It was an amazing trip, for sure.
Very cool!
Well done and best wishes from Dublin 🇮🇪
Cheers and thanks!
Thanks for the invite 😢
You did it!
There were doubts.
Very awesome job recording your trip and thanks for sharing. Hope you keep it up. I was in Alabama Hills in September, but couldn’t go much beyond driving around the Whitney Portal area. Sciatica completely derailed all summer plans, but am planning the JMT next year. I live near Sonora Pass and have so much I want to explore around here.
I also had a bout with sciatica early in the year, but it eventually subsided and allowed me to hike.
Great video, well done!
Thank you! Wish I had done a few things differently, but I’m happy I had good footage to document the trip.
I have same issues with all my videos, but it's fun and documenting the journey. Thanks for sharing your journey.@@sierranevadahikes8538
I did this over Labor Day this year except I returned to cottonwood after Whitney. 58 miles in 3 days.
Well done!
Gorgeous hike - well documented!
When did you do this hike? Planning to go soon myself and wondering about conditions.
We got to the summit on Aug. 13th from the west side then descended to Whitney Portal. At that point there were a few snow traverses on the descent that we crossed in boots and poles. We brought ice axes and crampons but conditions were such that we didn’t need them.
With the recent storms conditions have changed, especially the water crossings. If you are a seasoned hiker and comfortable in snow and ice, you should be fine.
That view at 30:56 is fantastic
It’s pretty astonishing to see that view the entire time you are ascending. The rising sun caused the colors to change with each passing minute.
@national geographic
Also multiple days at high elevation, and it seemed Whitney still had you gasping. Any advice for a novice hiker ? Breaks? Food intake? When to call it quits?
Awesome video. You guys are amazing!
Thank you
The Sierras make a good subject. Hard not to shoot beautiful video.