Best... hike... ever. Before reaching the Crabtree Patrol Cabin, turn left and cross the creek. At the trail junction near Rock Creek, turn left and hike along the creek, passing the ranger station on the way to Lower Rock Creek Crossing. This segment of trail and the ninety-seven switchbacks below Trail Crest on the east side (Mount Whitney Trail, Route 6) are engineering marvels and tributes to the workers who built them. Then turn south onto Horseshoe Meadow Road. To the Paiute Indians of the Owens Valley, Mount Whitney was known as Too-man-go-yah, roughly translated as 'very old man.' (Had food for 2 more nights if needed.) 6 ½ hour riding time Drop your pack and head for the summit. The first 2 miles of this trail segment are nearly flat, with a few ups and downs. This is a 3 days backpacking trip starting from Horseshoe Meadows in Inyo National Forest. From the signal light in Lone Pine on US 395, drive 3.5 miles west on the Whitney Portal Road. It begins at the Horseshoe Meadow parking lot at an elevation of 10,000 feet. From the summit there are impressive views of the east face of Mount Muir directly below, ninety-seven switchbacks in the Mount Whitney Trail, Trail Camp, Consultation Lake, Arc Pass, Whitney Portal, and the Owens Valley far below. There is also a stock camp exactly at the Rock Creek crossing (it is about 1 before Gyuot Creek). Just south of Lone Pine, the gateway to Mt Whitney, you leave Rt 395 and climb 6,000 feet up Horseshoe Meadow Road, a long windy road up the side of the mountain. Mile 8.1 to 14.0 (Siberian Pass Trail to Lower Rock Creek Crossing) At the Siberian Pass Trail junction, stay on the Pacific Crest Trail by angling left toward Lower Rock Creek Crossing. Join the John Muir Trail by turning right toward Timberline Lake and Guitar Lake. I have official notification that we have a permit for the July dates for our Mount Whitney excursion! Whitney; however, if you were to enter/exit at Whitney Portal, you would have to hike about 9 miles along the Mt. Space is limited to 10 clients with 2 guides. Hike your heart out. Unbelievable scenery. While the lottery to get a permit for Mount Whitney can be challenging and competitive, Mount Langley’s hikers can easily get a free permit on the day of their hike. The area around Timberline Lake is closed to camping. There is a bear-proof wilderness food storage box on the south side of the creek crossing about 5 feet southwest of the trail. A good number of backpackers choose to hike northbound from Whitney or even Horseshoe Meadow/Cottonwood Lakes because permits are easier to obtain. If you are entering on foot or bike the fee is $20 per person. There are numerous excellent places to camp near the lake. Very comfortable camp just below Guyot Pass. Located at about 10,000 feet altitude it is a central hub for many day- and back-backing trips. wont go into detail but won't sleep there again. Whitney, so Whitney Portal is a zoo. Comfortably made summit by 10 am. The top 50 feet of climbing is Class 3. I left my car at Onion Valley Campground below Kearsarge Pass and was driven by my good friends, Jonathan and Brendan, to Horseshoe Meadow. Camping at Horseshoe Meadow. The paved road is usually open from May to late October. Hikers ready to start the John Muir Trail! To reach the top of the first needle, Aiguille Extra, leave the trail about 1 mile from the trail junction and scramble to the top. Traverse left across a sloping ledge. If the weather is nice, spend some time on top; take in the scenery and savor your accomplishment. There are twelve walk-in campground sites, toilets, and piped water near the trailhead. To get to Horseshoe Meadow: From the city of Lone Pine, it takes half an hour to ascend to the trailhead campgrounds. Permits question for Horseshoe Meadows to Mt Whitney and back.   or Tom Harrison Mount Whitney High Country Trail Map (1:63,360), Trail Profile Table: Cottonwood Pass Trail. The road climbs to about 10,000 feet elevation in approximately 15 miles, and ends at Horseshoe Meadows. The first trail steps of my PCT Journey began after a car shuttle. MT. MILE 744.5 | Follow the Mulkey Pass Trail 1.7 mi / 2.7 km to Horseshoe Meadow and then hitch 18 mi / 28.9 km to Lone Pine. Whitney Portal. 5 am start was plenty early. Pretty sunset with the moon approaching full. After this initial climb, the rate of ascent slackens. At the John Muir-Mount Whitney Trail junction there are several large tent platforms that can serve as campsites, but bring plenty of water because these campsites are dry. Others hike the trail in sections, entering from lateral trails along the way. 6 days and 5 nights. This trail is a good choice for an early season ascent. Mile 0 to 3.5 (Horseshoe Meadow to Cottonwood Pass) For the first two miles the Cottonwood Pass Trail skirts Horseshoe Meadow, gaining only 200 feet in the process. Can be done in 3 days, or 2 if you’re really ambitious. MILE 766.3 | Follow the trail up Mt. Langley is only about 500 feet shorter than Mt. WHITNEY TRAIL RIDE Sequoia National Park/Golden Trout Wilderness 7 Days Horseshoe Meadows to Horseshoe Meadows . From the pass the trail advances past Crabtree Meadow and the Crabtree Patrol Cabin, where it joins the John Muir Trail on its way to the summit of Whitney. We got a pair of walk-in permits (it was easy since we were entering on a loop and less traveled route. It's a great way to climb Mount Whitney if you don't have any permit and you're up for a 3-4 days hike in the mountain. bring a bear canister along!!!! Whitney from Crabtree Meadow and descend to Whitney Portal (5,100 ft / 1,554 m descent). Each of these peaks is only a couple hundred feet above the trail. Whitney) By Sarah Marjorie. Near the 10,400-foot level, the trail crosses Guyot Creek. Coming soon - Zero Carbon Shuttle! Its easy access by the Horseshoe Meadow Road from Owens Val… The most difficult hiking is over as the trail gradually reaches the highest point in the Lower 48. The Indians believed that the spirit responsible for the destiny of their people lived inside the mountain, and from his high perch he observed the Indians and noted their behavior. hated trail camp with all the idiots. It is essentially free of snow by mid-June, so it is a good trail to take before the wilderness permit quotas become effective each summer (starting the last Friday by June). Our trips originate trips primarily from Horseshoe Meadows. The trail is not that hard but be prepared to be challenge at some point in you're hike!!!! We stopped in between for lunch at Lone Pine’s Mt. Left excess gear at trail junction. We will work our way to Crabtree Meadows, where we will make camp for a day hike to the summit of Mt. some earthquake damage on crest trail but easy to manage. This is a great way to summit Whitney if you can’t get a permit for the standard trail. Climb a crack to your right, gaining the small summit block. The summit provides expansive views, solitude, and a deep feeling of accomplishment. Mile 3.5 to 8.1 (Cottonwood Pass to Siberian Pass Trail) At the four-way trail junction just beyond Cottonwood Pass, turn right onto the Pacific Crest Trail toward Rock Creek. More traffic in this section. From this notch, angle left and scramble up a small chimney. There are two trails that begin here that can connect you to the JMT near Mt. Here the trail runs level for a while and then climbs out of the basin to the Cottonwood Lakes area. From the signal light in Lone Pine on US 395, drive 3.5 miles west on the Whitney Portal Road. 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