Cactus to Clouds Hiking Guide is Back Online!

[zippetydude]

For me, anyway, it's simply a lack of time. I have squeezed in Whitney on several occasions when I would have had to skip the trip altogether if I were going to take a few days. A day hike up Whitney is way more fun than not doing Whitney at all!

z

[halhiker]

I've done C2C (riding the tram back down) and Whitney (crossing from west to east, after two weeks of altitude acclimatization). I suppose that descending Skyline would be similar to descending the Whitney Trail: an extreme form of physical punishment on your feet and knees, which may be necessary but will not be enjoyable. The difference is that in the case of C2C, the extra torture is optional -- so why would you subject yourself to it?

If you're already in good enough shape to do C2C the normal way, then you're in plenty good enough shape to do Whitney as a day hike, although you'll have the total lack of altitude acclimatization because of choosing to do it as a day hike. You could see your doctor for a prescription for diamox. Personally, when people say they're thinking of doing Whitney as a day hike, I always ask them why they would want to do such a thing. Lack of backpacking equipment and skills?

I've never had any difficulty with the altitude at Whitney. It is probably best for a person to get up and down quickly because altitude sickness generally takes a while to present. It's actually better for someone to sleep in Lone Pine and then climb because sleeping at the Portal won't help acclimatize and you'll be breathing in less oxygen while sleeping. Sleep low, climb high is an old climbers' maxim and it applies here. I've always found sitting hydrated and taking a couple Tylenol is more than enough to alleviate any altitude problems.

[Zé]

I've done C2C (riding the tram back down) and Whitney (crossing from west to east, after two weeks of altitude acclimatization). I suppose that descending Skyline would be similar to descending the Whitney Trail: an extreme form of physical punishment on your feet and knees, which may be necessary but will not be enjoyable. The difference is that in the case of C2C, the extra torture is optional -- so why would you subject yourself to it?

If you're already in good enough shape to do C2C the normal way, then you're in plenty good enough shape to do Whitney as a day hike, although you'll have the total lack of altitude acclimatization because of choosing to do it as a day hike. You could see your doctor for a prescription for diamox. Personally, when people say they're thinking of doing Whitney as a day hike, I always ask them why they would want to do such a thing. Lack of backpacking equipment and skills?

I've never had any difficulty with the altitude at Whitney. It is probably best for a person to get up and down quickly because altitude sickness generally takes a while to present. It's actually better for someone to sleep in Lone Pine and then climb because sleeping at the Portal won't help acclimatize and you'll be breathing in less oxygen while sleeping. Sleep low, climb high is an old climbers' maxim and it applies here. I've always found sitting hydrated and taking a couple Tylenol is more than enough to alleviate any altitude problems.

I think that's true if you only have a day, but it would be better to arrive the day before, go hike up to a decent elevation, say 10,000-11k feet, then sleep low. For Whitney, you could drive up to Horseshoe Meadows (~ 10 k ft) then walk around, maybe hike up a few thousand feet, to get some exposure without exerting yourself much.

[bluerail]

I do whitney as a day hike so i can get back down to the portal and have food and a beer.

did stemwinder on thor this weekend and goofed around so much Doug was lockin the door when we walked up to the store

[zippetydude]

stemwinder?

Nevermind. Found it. Cool stuff Steve.

z

[rwjlovestohike]

I've done C2C (riding the tram back down) and Whitney (crossing from west to east, after two weeks of altitude acclimatization). I suppose that descending Skyline would be similar to descending the Whitney Trail: an extreme form of physical punishment on your feet and knees, which may be necessary but will not be enjoyable. The difference is that in the case of C2C, the extra torture is optional -- so why would you subject yourself to it?

If you're already in good enough shape to do C2C the normal way, then you're in plenty good enough shape to do Whitney as a day hike, although you'll have the total lack of altitude acclimatization because of choosing to do it as a day hike. You could see your doctor for a prescription for diamox. Personally, when people say they're thinking of doing Whitney as a day hike, I always ask them why they would want to do such a thing. Lack of backpacking equipment and skills?

Really good point on the punishment downhill not being necessary when I am really looking to get an ascent pace gauge. Thanks for setting me straight.

On the acclimation, I am driving my sons up on Saturday night and making the day hike on Monday since we didn't get the overnight passes. Otherwise, I was originally hoping to go up Friday and do a Sun/Mon overnight.

But hey, I got the day passes, so this trip will have a little less taking in the experience and more effort.

[rwjlovestohike]

I think that's true if you only have a day, but it would be better to arrive the day before, go hike up to a decent elevation, say 10,000-11k feet, then sleep low. For Whitney, you could drive up to Horseshoe Meadows (~ 10 k ft) then walk around, maybe hike up a few thousand feet, to get some exposure without exerting yourself much.[/quote]

Great feedback. I was actually thinking about hanging out around Horseshoe
Meadows on Sunday. Having a early dinner in Lone Pine then catching some zzee's at the trail head for an early Monday pre-dawn start.

Now if there were only a zip line down...my arthritic hip, knees, and ankle would be much less of an issue coming down. I alway hike with a stick for stability but this time, I am going with two.