Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Two-day hike to Mt. Whitney 11.1-11.2

Hello. I am getting excited to join a group of 8 friends and take a two-day hike by Mt. Whitney trail from 11.1 to 11.2. I did a day hike last year and find this forum a great place for trail information. My post of last year is here:   6/1/2014 Dayhike Summit by beginner hikers

Since I haven't done any backpacking at this elevation, I'd like to seek advice for the trip. Our plan is:

11.1.2015
12:00 Lone Pine lunch
1:30 PM Arrive at Whitney Portal and start hiking
6:30 PM Arrive at Trail Camp

*From weather forecast the temperature may drop to 32F at Trail Camp. But from previous post in this forum, I saw report of 17F at night. We prepare sleeping bag of 20 degree F. Would that be good for the night at Trail Camp?

*I guess the lake near Trail Camp may be frozen by 11.1. What would be the best way to get water. I am balancing on supplying water near Mirror Lake or boiling water at Trail Camp.

*We have totally 9 people in the group and plan to take two 4-person tent and one 2-person tent. Would there be enough camp space at the Trail Camp? I checked from Google Earth and could barely identify about 4 good camp sites at the Trail Camp.

11.2.2015
5:30 AM Get up and breakfast
6:00 AM Start hiking if weather is good
11:30 AM Reach summit (We set 12:30 at noon as turnaround time if we are slow)
3:00 PM Back to Trail camp
7:30 PM Back to Whitney Portal

*I know technically 11.2 is the start of winter season. But should we bring bear canister with us? Is the weather cold enough that it's safe to put food just in tent? (I saw suggestions that just leave food in the tent and let the tent open in case marmot visit).

*I also concern that amount of water I should bring for the summit day. Would 2.5 L considered adequate from trail camp to summit and back?

I'd appreciate any suggestions. BYW the group is in good physical condition but some of the members have never hiked higher than 12000 ft. We have a contingency plan that if anyone feel altitude sickness at trail camp, he/she will stay at the Trail Camp without attempting summit on Day 2.

Hope the weather can keep good. Thanks for your insights!

John, I appreciated your report from last year, especially the video. I referred Newclimber in Australia to it. The view of the person glissading, and of your hiking partners climbing really give a good flavor of that section.

As for your hike in November: Sure is late in the year, will be cold. Also remember: way more hours of darkness than in June.

Comments on your plans: It will probably take you more than your planned 5 hours to reach Trail Camp. Also, daylight savings time ends on Nov 1, so it will be nearly dark by 5 PM. Your packs will be heavier than a summer trip due to the extra clothing required for the cold. You might consider camping at Outpost Camp for a more hospitable location. Get up earlier there and you can still make the summit.

For warmth, 2 and 4 people in the same tent keep it warmer, so the 20 degree bags should be ok. You may need to sleep in some of your clothing.

Last water should be the inlet to the Trail Camp pond. There will be water running into it. You may need to break some ice to get to it. If you have an ice axe that should work.

Bears won't visit Trail Camp, but the marmots will. I have heard people hang their food over a rock using a stuff sack to keep the mice and marmots out. (But the bear can is required.)

Looking at the satellite view of Trail Camp, I think the sites south of the trail are big enough for your 4-person tents.

Thank you Steve for the suggestions. The high quality image of the Tail Camp you shared is very helpful. I'm glad that my 2014 post may help other hikers get a feel of the chute. Hope my experience could alert who is new to Mt. Whitney and prepare properly.

You should probably plan on hiking down the switchbacks on this trip. There isn't enough snow to glissade yet. You would be hitting rocks just under the snow if you tried.

Swithback is the plan;-)

We made to the summit.
Due to the weather condition we started on day earlier than planned and picked up walk-in permit at ranger station (10.31-11.1). Trail was almost free of snow until trail camp. The weather on 10.31 at trail camp was very pleasant, very little wind and gorgeous view of winter constellations.

The condition on 99 or 100 switchbacks was passable with great cautiousness. Crampon and poles are necessary for a safe hike. Steps by hikers were quickly covered by snow drift. Cables is not the Only difficult part, but the start of it. The switchback took us 3 hours to complete.

From trail crest to the summit the snow was packed by hikers, which made it a relative easy pass. On the summit the wind was strong, I almost lost my summit pack when took a photo.

Some photos from this memorable trip: http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/galleries/44748/Mt_Whitney_10.31-11.1_2015

Congratulations! Glad you made it, and thanks for the pictures. I'll embed them here so people can see them more easily.

Outpost Camp