Hi Megan,

Assuming you have a "day permit" you should not enter the Whitney Zone prior to 12:01 AM so be aware of that. Why do you want to start so early? It would be very difficult to get to the top prior to sunrise, and much better to enjoy the views as you hike.

In any case your only concern about bears is at the trail head (parking lot), where they like to steal backpacks that are left unattended for only a moment. They like your food, but will not bother you. ALSO, do not leave food (or anything that might smell like food to a bear) in your car. They will break into your car. There are mountain lions in the area, but sightings are very rare. Really, you should not worry about either bears of mountain lions. Marmots are likely your biggest threat, and again, only to chew a hole into your backpack to get your food. Do not leave your backpack unattended.

There are over 220 people/day on this trail. You will not really be alone, so do not let your small group size worry you.

The trail is well marked, and easy to follow, so hiking in the dark is not too much of a concern. There are a couple of creek crossings that will require you full attention, but not really a big deal. The area above Mirror Lake can offer some challenges for staying on trail (more so coming down), and there was recently a death in this area as the result of the hiker getting off trail and falling down a steep chute. This occurred during his decent, late in the day (getting dark), and very tired. If you are concerned it might be best to hike this portion during daylight.

If you started at 3:00 AM you would only be hiking in the dark for a couple of hours, and even if the hike requires 16 hours you would be down by 7:00 PM, well before dark. Also, the lower portions of the hike (nearest the trail head) are the safest, so even if you ran later, and did finish in the dark it would be on the easiest portion of the trail.

The most difficult thing about this hike are:
- the distance (~22 miles)
- the climb (~7,000' elevation gain - including ups and downs)
- the altitude - 14,500'
It really is a test of your fitness level, and how well your have prepared. You should plan on spending a couple of days prior to the hike at a higher elevation in order to become somewhat accustomed to the altitude. Spending two nights above 8,000' (10,000 is better) will improve your likelihood of avoiding altitude sickness. If you are not aware of altitude sickness (also referred to as AMS) you should read up on this. It can really be debilitating.

Use the search function on the top of the page to research. There are many posts on AMS and altitude sickness: symptons; what different people do to minimize the risk; and what to do if you are confronted with this condition.

Otherwise, enjoy the hike. It is most remarkable, and well worth the effort.

Last edited by John Sims; 07/14/14 06:41 PM. Reason: correct spelling