MT. WHITNEY

[Hikin_Jim]

And look for the chimp. It's a dead give away.

[Ellen]

Howdy Tina

You're faster than the average Whitney dayhiker. As Z-dude pointed out, you can get an estimate of your Whitney ascent time from your Skyline time. Based on your Skyline speed, you should summit in 6 hours or less if you're hiking at your own pace. The descent takes about an hour less than the ascent. And of course you'll want to take some time at the summit to appreciate the view

This estimate assumes that you won't have any adverse effects from the altitude. I've known very fit people who summit San Gorgonio with ease but develop altitude sickness on Whitney.

Have a wonderful time on Whitney! Can't wait to read your trip report.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Ellen]

Howdy Tina

You're faster than the average Whitney dayhiker. As Z-dude pointed out, you can get an estimate of your Whitney ascent time from your Skyline time. Based on your Skyline speed, you should summit in 6 hours or less if you're hiking at your own pace. The descent takes about an hour less than the ascent. And of course you'll want to take some time at the summit to appreciate the view

This estimate assumes that you won't have any adverse effects from the altitude. I've known very fit people who summit San Gorgonio with ease but develop altitude sickness on Whitney.

Have a wonderful time on Whitney! Can't wait to read your trip report.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[tinaballina]

thank you Ellen, i really hope i am able to handle the altitude. i have come to the realization that i am an altitude junky at heart. i have now done san g. three times and love hitting 10,500 feet, its a real rush for me....is that weird???
I appreciate your insite, i can't wait to give you the trip report either.

[zippetydude]

Hi Tina.

Like you mentioned in another thread, (since it's your first time), that you'll want to stop and take pictures at the ultimate cool log bridge crossing Lone Pine Creek, at Lone Pine Lake (about 2 miles in), at a whole bunch of beautiful spots along the trail, again at Trail Crest, then looking through the "Windows", and then of course at the peak.

Given that, I'd say the estimates you've heard are real reasonable, and you might even want to add a little bit.

If you do it again in the coming years, you may want to go fast, but this is a beautiful trail with great views, so I'd imagine you'll take your time and explore along the way up. Of course, it's just as scenic on the way down, but I find myself more prone to keep moving on the way back. On the way up a brand new trail, I love to savor it and enjoy the newness and wonder.

By the way, if you like the feeling at 10,500, you're going to love Trail Crest! It's over 13k, and you'll probably find the altitude quite noticeable. It's a blast, so I hope you have a great time.

z

[tinaballina]

Z,

Thank you so much for the great advice.

i will be getting a water purifier as well so i don't have to carry so much water.

I am seriously so excited Z. i will definitely want to do whitney again i am sure. I am already thinking of where i will go next.

[zippetydude]

"so I won't have to carry so much water"...

...my first time up, I was young and inexperienced. I did it as a dayhike, and carried a backpack with two gallons of water! Being cautious and not wanting to use up my water, I drank from the streams and "conserved" the water. I finally put them down at Trail Crest, went on to the peak and back, then poured them out and went down. Never drank a drop. Clever me.

You've probably seen the postings (especially on Whitney Portal Board) about whether or not to filter. I never do, but some intelligent people (HJ for example) always do, so it's an interesting question.

Here's a cool link (if you haven't already seen it) to a video to whet your appetite. Just a few days, and you'll see it first hand!

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum ... /0#Post401

z

[Hikin_Jim]

I don't always filter, but in high use areas or in areas with a lot of human or livestock activity upstream, I definitely filter. I tend to be a little conservative on the safety issue. I've met "Murphy" out on the trail more than once.

[zippetydude]

Hi Jim. My bad. I thought you were a 100% filtering guy.

I'm certainly not against filtering, I'm just against carrying filters!

Hey, anybody got a good picture from Whitney looking south, zoomed in on the 97 switchbacks? That might be interesting for Tina to see. I love looking down at the trail, way off in the distance, and marveling at how far it looks, and how it seems to go on forever, back and forth, down and down... and then realizing I've already done the hard part and come up that way. Makes the accomplishment all the more real. Anyone with a link?

z

[tomcat_rc]

my picture from the top of Wotans Throne this last weekend did not come out. But here is a picture from Thor from last November. That is Wotan partially blocking the view of the lower switchbacks



Saturday may see some afternoon Monsoonal clouds and poss t-storms - see related weather links