How hard is it to hike Mount Whitney?
4 min read
Asked by: Joe Butler
Whitney trail is extremely difficult, especially if you try to do it in just one day (as many do). The trail is 20 miles long, with about 6,600 feet of total elevation gain, which is A LOT for most hikers if they haven’t trained appropriately. However, you can also backpack this trail for a more enjoyable experience!
How long does it take to get to the top of Mount Whitney?
For fast hikers, the ascent can be done in about 5 hours, with about 7 to 8 hours for the average hiker. A slow pace may mean 10 hours to the top. Generally, coming down takes about 2 to 3 hours quicker. In order to get back Whitney Portal before dusk in the summer 8pm it often requires starting before sunrise.
Is Whitney or Shasta harder?
I found Shasta in spring much harder than Whitney in summer. The chute does add a whole different challenge — I did it for my first and only time in May 2013. In terms of exertion, I found climbing the chute on Whitney (May 2013) somewhat comparable to climbing Avalanche gulch on Shasta (mid-June, ).
Can you hike Mount Whitney in a day?
Most people tackle Mt Whitney as a 22 mile round-trip day hike. It sounds long but is very doable with the proper training. Your chances for getting a permit on the day hike are also generally the best. There’s also a great sense of accomplishment in hiking Mt Whitney in a day.
Which is harder Mt Whitney or Half Dome?
I’d say Whitney is the more difficult of the two. It’s just higher and longer. If you consider Whitney 10/10 and you did half dome all the way I’d put Half Dome at 6/10 with Whitney. The altitude makes a huge difference.
Is Mt Whitney harder than Mt Rainier?
At 14,505 feet, Whitney is the highest U.S. peak outside of Alaska. It is nearly 100 feet higher than Mount Rainier (14,411). But unlike Rainier, Whitney is a nontechnical climb.
What is the easiest 14er in California?
White Mountain Peak
While White Mountain Peak is the 3rd tallest peak in California, it is also generally considered to be the easiest of the California 14ers. It is also one of only two California 14ers that lies outside the Sierra Nevada range.
Is Mt Rainier harder than Kilimanjaro?
Mount Kilimanjaro vs Mount Elbrus
Elbrus is definitely harder, the summit day involved a similar gain in height but on snow with heavy boots and crampons and in the cold, it saps the energy more. Negotiating potentially soft snow and hard ice is harder than walking up a rocky track as you do on Kilimanjaro.
What is the scariest hike in America?
11 of the Most Dangerous Hikes in the U.S.
- Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park. …
- Capitol Peak via the Knife Edge, Colorado. …
- Mist Trail and Half Dome Cables, Yosemite National Park. …
- Huckleberry Trail, Glacier National Park. …
- Camp Muir, Mount Rainier National Park. …
- Chinitna Bay, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
How many hours does it take to hike Mt Whitney?
12 to 14 hours
Most day hikers choose the classic Mt. Whitney Trail. The 22-mile round-trip hike will challenge even very fit hikers. Expect to hike 12 to 14 hours to the summit and back.
What happens if you hike Mt Whitney without a permit?
You do need a permit to hike up Whitney and any nearby mountain in the summer. If you don’t have a permit, rangers will cite you and turn you back. The regulations are so complicated that rangers themselves disagree on their interpretations.
How do I prepare for Mt Whitney?
Prepare by hiking 8-10 miles per week with 5000-6000 feet of elevation gain. Run 10-14 miles per week. Focus on building leg strength. Be able to carry a 40 lb pack for a two day climb.
Do you need crampons for Mt Whitney?
You should expect to need crampons and an ice axe. Based on the record current snowpack in that area right now the section of the trail known as the “switchbacks” will just be an approximately 45+ degree snow and ice slog. The switchbacks themselves will be covered and useless.
