Mt Whitney Summit Hike

Mt. Whitney Summit Hike Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Meet your guides and fellow trekkers at 11am to begin with introductions, orientation, and a short hike to our first campsite.

  Our trip begins today at 11am at Whitney Pack Trains corral. Meet your guides and fellow trekkers for a rundown of the trip itinerary, gear check and packing. We will spend some time sorting gear and ensuring that you have all that you need prior to taking to the trail. We will head out a short distance to a comfortable spot where we can enjoy our first lunch together overlooking alpine meadows. Following lunch we take to a steady climb up to the Cottonwood Pass (11,120') and onto Chicken Springs Lake (11,240') for the first night. Our first day is intentionally short to allow us time to warm up our legs and help with acclimatization. Meals Provided: Lunch, Dinner.

  Hiking: 4.1 miles; 1350’ elevation gain/200’ elevation loss; ~4-6 hours of activity

• Day 2 Soak in the High Sierra sunrise as we prepare to enter Sequoia Kings National Park and make our way toward the summit.

  This morning we will have time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and soak up the spectacular High Sierra as we await the packers return to camp. Our trail today will follow a flat or gradual decline, with elevation loss of about 2500' feet over about a 10 mile stretch. We'll meander among spectacular groves of alpine Foxtail and Lodgepole Pine as we descend to our camp for the night at Rock Creek Crossing (9620').

  Hiking: 9.75 miles; 850’ gain/2500’ loss; ~8-10 hours of activity

• Day 3 Above the trees, we'll take a gorgeous and diverse landscape, leaving the pack animals behind to graze as we ascend and stage our summit day.

  Following our breakfast this morning we continue hiking out of Rock Creek up onto the wide open shelf of the Guyot Flat. Staying above treeline we continue along to Crabtree Meadows where we beginning hiking directly towards Mt. Whitney. This steady climb today will lead us to our camp for the evening at Guitar Lake (11,460'). This is a truly stunning day, full of contour and gorgeous diverse terrain. At this point the pack animal support will leave us and head back down to Crabtree Meadows, as they cannot graze at the altitude of Guitar Lake. We will stage our summit day from here, enjoying a full cooked dinner this evening and getting a good night's sleep. All meals included.

  Hiking: 8.7 miles; 2500’ gain/850’ loss; ~8-10 hours of activity

• Day 4 Summit day! We may rise before dawn to give ourselves the best change at summiting at a slow and steady pace.

  Summit Day! Depending on conditions, expect to rise well before dawn. Today after packing up our personal belongings for the pack team to transport to our next camp, we will work our way slowly towards our goal of summiting Mt. Whitney. Although the mountain looks close, the air is thin and breathing becomes more labored, taxing energy levels. In addition, along our route, we'll encounter many switchbacks up to the trailcrest at 13,550 feet. This is where the path converges with the summit trail coming from the opposite side of the mountain and also where we start our final ascent to the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Once on top we'll have time for photos and reflection on the amazing accomplishment we've achieved. We'll then head back down the trail to our new lower elevation camp at Crabtree Meadows for a celebratory dinner at camp! All meals included.

  Hiking/Non-Technical Climbing: 11.3 miles roundtrip; 3500’ gain/4457’ loss; ~11-12 hours of activity

• Day 5 A peaceful night's rest and we're ready to head back down the trail, enjoying beautiful Sierra views.

  After a lovely cooked breakfast, we start back down the trail enjoying the expansive views of the valleys below. Having just spent days challenging ourselves to the rigors of working our way up to the summit of a mountain, we'll now have the opportunity to truly absorb our surroundings and enjoy the beauty of the high Sierra. We will make it all the way back to Rock Creek Lake today where we will camp for one last evening together. All meals included.

  Hiking: 10.5 miles; 1750’ gain/2000’ loss; ~8-10 hours of activity

• Day 6 Our longest day of hiking, we'll get an early start on the rolling terrain awaiting us. We expect to be back at the trailhead in the late afternoon.

  Our final day of hiking will take us from Rock Creek Lake back to the pack station. This terrain is rolling and provides great opportunities for early morning photos. We will plan to get an early start after breakfast and we will stop for lunch on the trail, again with a beautiful mountain meadow surrounding. We plan to be finished up for congratulations and farewells by late afternoon. Meals Included; Breakfast & Lunch.

  Hiking: 10.2 miles, 1750’ gain/1000’ loss; ~8-10 hours of activity

  Note: Due to the remote proximity of the trailhead we strongly discourage scheduling flights or other concrete travel arrangements this evening.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions. This trip is operated rain or shine.

Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.

Professional instruction and guiding; all meals as noted in the daily itinerary; group cooking gear; group first-aid kit; water filter; pack support; three person tents (double occupancy); campsite and permit fees.

Not Included Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; insurance of any kind; energy drinks; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted due to altitude and nature of trip.

Los Angeles International Airport; Los Angeles, CA – 210 miles, 3 hours
Las Vegas International Airport; Las Vegas, NV – 230 miles, 3.75 hours
Inyokern Airport; Ridgecrest, CA – 73 miles, 1 hour

There is no reliable transfer service from any airport to our meeting place. Anticipate renting a car if flying in for this weekend getaway.

This trip is rated Vigorous [4]. The hiking portions of the trip involve carrying a 15-20 pound backpack over terrain at altitudes often over 10,000 feet, with elevation gain and loss for up to 8-10 miles daily. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to avoid sore muscles, we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least three months prior to your departure. Most important to your overall enjoyment is your overall fitness level.

You should be in prime physical condition to participate in this trip and capable of carrying a daypack weighing between 15-20 pounds. This trip takes place in the High Sierra of California, and as such, the bulk of your six days will be spent at elevations over 11,000 feet. This adds an even more challenging element to your experience on the trail to Mt. Whitney. In addition, daily hiking mileage will average between eight and thirteen miles, with hiking times being, on average, EVERY DAY being between eight to twelve hours.

Daytime temperatures usually range between 60o - 95o F, depending on month, with evening temperatures potentially dropping to below freezing during earlier and later departures to temperatures in the 60s during mid- summer. Expect to encounter freezing temperatures at some of the higher elevations, especially at night. Afternoon thunderstorms are common on Mt. Whitney so adequate raingear is important.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

While this is a pack supported adventure, weight is still one of the most important elements of preparation you should take into consideration. The gear you bring along with you (excluding the gear you will carry yourself in your day pack while hiking) MUST NOT weigh more than 20 pounds. This 20 pound maximum should include the weight of your sleeping materials (including bag and mat), clothing, favorite snacks, etc. Please make sure to weigh your gear prior to the trip to ensure it will not exceed the 20 pound maximum.

Gear Checklist