In order to avoid walking through many waterfalls and getting our feet wet we came down via the Old Trail, which goes from the Whitney Portal Parking lot Picnic Area and to the John Muir Wilderness sign on the trail.
Seems a lot of people are going back to taking the original hiking trail vs the newer, super long equestrian trail. Might cut off almost 1 mile?
The old trail is about a half mile shorter, but it leaves you perhaps a quarter mile further from your vehicle (assuming it was parked near the equestrian trailhead). I figured I saved at most 5 minutes descending it, but it's not a very good trail and steep, so it takes more effort IMO. I prefer the mindless descent of the newer trail, particular if I'm jogging down (which I do now and ends up being faster). So the faster you descend, the less appealing the old trail is, of course except when the water crossing is too deep to not get wet (I always go in September so not an issue then).
