Hi Daybreak,

As it turns out, I just got back from hiking from Cottonwood Pass to Whitney and out the portal. I am from NC so I can tell you my experience.

We flew into Vegas, spent the night, then drove up to Mammoth for acclimation over the weekend. We then dropped the car at the portal and shuttled over to Horseshoe Meadow, getting started around 11am from the trail head.

Day 1: 4 miles over Cottonwood pass to Chicken Springs Lake. Great hike, and great camping spot. Walkmeter Link: http://walkmeter.com/b12246701af4d093/Walk-20180723-1105

Day 2: Hiked 10 miles to Rock Creek. Easiest day by far, another great camping site along the creek. Walkmeter Link: http://walkmeter.com/b12246701af4d093/Walk-20180724-0815

Day 3: Hiked 6+ miles to Upper Crabtree Meadow. Our original goal was Guitar Lake, but this section was tougher than expected and then a storm came in earlier than expected so we laid low. That climb out of Rock Creek is like some of the steep east coast trails. Walkmeter Link: http://walkmeter.com/b12246701af4d093/Walk-20180725-0744

Day 4: Hiked up to the Whitney junction, arriving around 9:30am. Storm clouds were already forming, so we elected to turn right and head over trail crest. This was made easier as we had already summitted in previous years so we hiked out. Walkmeter Link: http://walkmeter.com/b12246701af4d093/Walk-20180726-0447 (Gap in this one where I forget to turn back on for a short time).

I only kept about 1 - 1.5L of water with me, plenty of water. Summit day, carried 3L but found water above Guitar Lake so carried too much that day.

Swim and enjoy the rivers and lakes, just be downstream of where people are camping, as that is also your water source.

We left about 5am on Day 4 from Upper Crabtree Meadow. Don't get summit fever, watch those storm clouds!

I did not use Diamox, my hiking partner did.

We used GutHook App and paper maps, trail was very easy to follow.

Used the Walkmeter App to track progress, put phone in Airplane mode and used about 20% per day, recharged overnight.

The altitude really gets your heart racing so just watch red-lining too much. Drink plenty and eat plenty especially before you attempt that last climb up to Whitney and high altitude, many lose their appetite, and thus their fuel. Stop and enjoy the sights but get into camp early to avoid storms, it does hail in those thunderstorms.

Good Luck!