To get an idea of difficulty, and other tips, you can start by reading this thread:
Mount Whitney Trail: Hiking in the Dark? Snow?Trail head to summit in time for sunrise is a tall task. You could start about 10:30 or 11 PM and get to the wilderness boundary at Lone Pine Lake at midnight, where your day hike permit requirement technically kicks in.
Just keep quiet when you hike through the Outpost Camp and Trail Camp areas so you don't disturb the people sleeping there.
