Map of the Mt. Whitney trail.
Taken from http://150mph.planetrambler.com/090703_MtWhitney/index.html
Trip Summary:
Day 1: Whitney portal -> Outpost camp (3.8 miles)
Day 2: Outpost camp -> Trail camp (2.5 miles)
Day 3: Trail camp -> Mt. Whitney summit -> Trail camp (9.4 miles)
Day 4: Trail camp -> Whitney portal (6.3 miles)
First view of Mt. Whitney from the visitor center where we picked up our permits and wag bags. The peak right in the middle.
Wag bags. Because the Mt. Whitney trail is at such a high elevation with mainly granite, there is little soil available to bury human waste. Thus, the wag bags are used to carry out the waste.
In the parking lot, getting ready to start the trek.
Whitney Portal. Weighing our packs. At the start, my pack weighed about 36 lbs.
Start of the Mt. Whitney trail from Whitney Portal.
Off we go.
Crossing a small stream.
Surrounded by granite.
Entering the Whitney Zone, where permits are required. Starts right after Lone Pine Lake.
On the trail with the needles and summit behind us.
Everything looked amazing.
Bighorn meadow.
Outpost camp. Our 3 tents. Home for the night.
Slept next to this waterfall.
Filtering water for dinner.
Preparing dinner.
Rice noodles cooking in a rice pot, surrounded by granite mountains, listening to the mild roar of the waterfall, all in good company.
It started to rain right after we finished dinner. Some hikers told us that it was hailing at the Trail camp.
