[pct-l] Whitney Question

[go4ahike at verizon.net (Brian Bowlsby)]

>I'm assuming they'll be exhausted after that 9 mile, 5500 climb and will
need to camp before summiting Whitney the next day.

Yes, they will be exhausted if they came directly from the TH at Whitney
portal! A better option might be for them to camp at trail camp where
everyone else camps on the east side. Then, they could meet you at trail
crest the next day and you could all camp on the summit together. Most
nights you'd have the summit completely to yourselves!  I did it this summer
at the end of my JMT hike and met friends on the summit to camp.  There is
no water on the summit though, so bring plenty if you decide to do that.

>is camping allowed (or possible) at or near Trail Crest junction? If so,
where would you suggest?

I don't remember seeing anywhere to camp at or near trail crest? And if you
did, you'd have people walking through your camp before sunrise!

>I'm told the last reliable water is the two tarns at 11,600 feet between
Guitar Lake and Trail Crest...

That's correct. If you fill up with 2-3 liters at guitar lake you will have
plenty of water to summit and get down the east side. If you camp on the
summit, take more.

>Are there any other water sources at or closer to Trail Crest?

Just snow early in the season.

Brian Bowlsby