[pct-l] Mt. Whitney

[Bob Bankhead]

Not if you have a PCTA through-hikers' permit. You only need the Whitney Zone endorsement if you are planning to go over Trail Crest and exit down the east slope to Whitney Portal and/or Lone Pine.

Camp at (very windy) Guitar Lake, leave your gear there and start up about 6:00 - 7:00 am, summit Whitney about 3 hours later, and return. When you're ready, follow the JMT back to the PCT at Crabtree Meadows and continue your hike.

"Where is Trail Crest?", you might ask. The JMT from Guitar Lake climbs 14 long switchbacks to a junction with the Mt Whitney trail. Turn left to go up Whitney; turn right to climb up to Trail Crest and descend the 99 switchbacks to Whitney Portal.

PCT hikers rarely go over Trail Crest to resupply because they'd have to make that murderous exposed climb up the steep east face with a full pack.

Wandering Bob
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sue Krafft 
  To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 7:43 PM
  Subject: [pct-l] Mt. Whitney


  This has probably been cussed and discussed over and over, but do I need to
  pay the $15 for a Mt. Whitney reservation if I am planning on going up from
  Guitar Lake to summit?  Thanks in advance. Miss Alaska