sorry bout straying from tri’s but i’m taking a break from my training and hiking up whitney next weekend. I have a bunch of questions about gear and what to bring. anyone on the board have any experience with this climb/hike?
I have hiked from the Portal and have hiked from the back side on my last day coming home from a 5 day trek with friends…will you be staying at base camp and then tackle the next day or will you come out of the gate and make a 1-day “Banzai” run…Sam…
One day Bonzai run! so here is my question. I was gonna wear just a light pair of hiking boots and no crampons. I was just gonna bring a softshell with a bunch of layers (merino wool etc). finally my only pack is about 2000cu inches (which seems kinda big)… what do you think, have you done it this time of year?
A 24oz hydration system and 2 powerbars should be just fine… you are a Triathlete after all, right?
We don’t need no acclimatisation, training, and equipment like doggie-bags or bear-resistant food canister, since we are up and down in a flush and can outrun any animal…
Have Fun!
sorry bout straying from tri’s but i’m taking a break from my training and hiking up whitney next weekend. I have a bunch of questions about gear and what to bring. anyone on the board have any experience with this climb/hike?
I made the summit last year at the end of August. Started the trek to the switchbacks at 2:00AM from the portal. Arrived at the base camp/base of the switchbacks at sunrise. Pumped water near the base of the slope to insure the water was not contaminated by the campers. I treated the climb like a tri so I brought plenty of Gu’s/Hammer Gels for the day long hike. The hike round trip is 22 miles. Make sure you are properly hydrated and have some altitude acclamation at say 7,000+ feet before attempting the summit. You need to get a day pass at the ranger station the day before, don’t forget to do this or you risk a fine. We arrived back at the portal at 6:30 PM, I only stayed on the summit for 30 minutes. Becarful of thunderstorms.
This link may help you out also & good luck and be carful your life depends on it.
wow…great link, thanks. we are also treating it like a tri, im going it with a bunch of guys who are doing a 70.3 the next week!
wow…great link, thanks. we are also treating it like a tri, im going it with a bunch of guys who are doing a 70.3 the next week!
Good luck & remember be extremely careful. The weather is so very important. If thunderstorms start forming get the hell off the mountain. This was way harder then doing a 1/2. Plan right & be safe. Good Luck and enjoy all the information on that message board. People have died on this mountain!
hmm.i dont think i was showing this climb the proper “respect”, thanks again for your input!
hmm.i dont think i was showing this climb the proper “respect”, thanks again for your input!
Do your homework & you will do fine. It’s unreal when you get to the summit. What a lasting memory having done this.
Ok…this may be long…so here it goes… If u go for a one day “Banzai” you will have to start really early, I have heard that some hikers start in the dark with headlamps and take them off when the sun comes up. I dont recomend the crampons… its the summer and the only snow will be at the top if any…Hiking boots is fine although bring an extra pair of socks for changing if you sweat alot and bring a Gore-Tex jacket and windproof pants for the time spent at the summit…a day pack should be ok and bring lots of gels and bars for the day…This will probably be a 10- 12 hour day…so be ready for a long day…I have stayed at base camp and have seen hikers coming down in the dark because they took to long to get to the summit or started off later in the morning.Good luck…>SAm
thanks sam, we are gonna start at 2am, so we should make it ok. Thanks for the advice about what to pack.
if u need more info email me shammyg@yahoo.com… its my pleasure…I love to hike in those mountains…very challenging…SAm
The biggest challenge is getting the permit. I heard you have to apply a year ahead, unless you can outrun the rangers
Can you get a day permit just showing up the day before?
Axel
The biggest challenge is getting the permit. I heard you have to apply a year ahead, unless you can outrun the rangers
Can you get a day permit just showing up the day before?
Axel
From what I can tell when I arrived at the ranger station in Lone Pine was that there are plenty of day hike passes. Some people who applied never showed and there generally are passes available. Mind you I did this with my brothers during a weekday near the end of August. I’m unsure what a weekend would bring.
Whitney Ranger station phone # is 1-760-876-6200.
I tried the one day bonzai run years ago and got altitude sickness and had to turn around after the switchback section.
This was before I was doing triathlons so my conditioning was not where it needed to be. I didn’t have any trouble with getting the permits the day before but that was during the week, not a weekend.
I also once tried a one day run without a permit but got turned around by a ranger about 1/4 of the way up. Didn’t get fined though.
I tried the one day bonzai run years ago and got altitude sickness and had to turn around after the switchback section.
This was before I was doing triathlons so my conditioning was not where it needed to be. I didn’t have any trouble with getting the permits the day before but that was during the week, not a weekend.
I also once tried a one day run without a permit but got turned around by a ranger about 1/4 of the way up. Didn’t get fined though.
Altitude sickness can be fatal. Here are some Golden Rules to follow:
**GOLDEN RULE I** If you feel unwell at altitude it is altitude illness until proven otherwise.
**GOLDEN RULE II** Never ascend with symptoms of AMS.
**GOLDEN RULE III** If you are getting worse (or have HACE or HAPE), go down at once
Note: Being in good condition is a great idea but even people who are in the greatest shape get effected by altitude sickness.
Acclimatize will be the best way to help prevent getting really sick.
One day Bonzai run! so here is my question. I was gonna wear just a light pair of hiking boots and no crampons. I was just gonna bring a softshell with a bunch of layers (merino wool etc). finally my only pack is about 2000cu inches (which seems kinda big)… what do you think, have you done it this time of year?
In late August there is only a small amount of snow on the trail up near the summit on trail crest. Here is a July video that shows the amount of snow in July. One slip in certain sections and what can I say…nice knowing you Bro. Also, if you need to be rescued I think the price is $10,000+. No freebies being rescued.
Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7-Q9gNlqyU
Day Hike by google earth…only one way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXG9YEmtVic&mode=related&search=
I have a ton of high altitude experience (i.e., over 20000 feet). Don’t treat any mountain, much less one that is over 14000 feet, as a walk up. Be prepared and do it right. Seriously. Want an example? At the 2005 Pikes Peak Ascent I spent about 4 hours on top with 2500 of my closest friends when the storm hit. The mountain always wins…
It’s been about 12 years since I climbed Whitney - came from the backside after a 9 day trek from Onion Valley. Prior posts have covered just about everything. The only thing I will add is to make sure you acclimatize before the climb and be very aware of thunderstorms. Three climbers died at the top a couple of years before I made the climb when they got caught out on top in a thunderstorm. The mountain is amazing and well worth the trip. Have fun.
Good advice here. I climbed it a few years back with my brother but we did it over three days, two nights. The only other suggestion I’d make is to take some aspirin with you. Those altitude headaches can ruin your day.