7 Reasons to Climb Mount Whitney in Winter

1 – The challenge

Conquer the highest point of the lower 48 during the most difficult time of the year. The two main trails are the Mountaineers Trail and the Whitney Trail. Both offer unique challenges at this time of year. When you climb Whitney in the winter, you’re working towards it using winter climbing techniques that make the summit that much more special.

2 – Photography

Capture incredible shots of the snow-capped Sierras, especially during sunrise and sunset. The light from the Alpenglow when it hits the mountains is impressive. Snow covered mountains add incredible depth and contrast to your shots. Frozen lakes and waterfalls add to the beauty of the area.

3-Improve yourself

Hone your mountaineering skills with the use of ice axes, snowshoes, and crampons. Stop buying gear just to take great photos on snowy hills that you can walk around in flip flops and surf shorts. Take a course, or teach yourself, and climb a real mountain that challenges you to use the tools you have. Using crampons and an ice ax is pretty common sense with a bit of practice. The trails have all the conditions to practice your skills. The trail has deep snow, long sections of ice, and steep inclines, which are close to death-defying cliffs.

4 – The insulation

Avoid the annoying summer crowds. Anyone can hike a pre-constructed, paved trail, but only a brave few can climb a mountain without a trail. Head out this time of year when the trail disappears under the snow and make your own route. You will have the mountain almost entirely to yourself.

5 – The night sky

Camp under an incredible endless starry sky. The Sierras offer some of the most beautiful night skies. With so many major cities just hours from Mt. Whitney, seeing the stars seems rare these days. Leave the city behind and fall asleep looking at the REAL night sky.

6 – Learn new skills

Learn to camp in the snow. Anyone can camp in an RV or in the height of summer, but what about winter? Bring a snow shovel to dig for shelter from the wind, learn how to melt snow for water, learn how to keep your stove going, how to stay warm in cold weather, and learn how to keep your wipes from freezing when nature calls. .

7 – No more apologies

The self-issuance permit means you won’t be able to use the “I couldn’t get a lottery permit to climb Mount Whitney” excuse, which I’ve heard a million times. (Because we all know the truth is, you really are scared!) Everyone says they want to climb Mount Whitney, and then they always find a reason to blame the Park Service for stopping them. Well, if you really wanted to climb Mount Whitney, then half the year is totally in your control. You can probably get an entry permit for the other 6 months of the year as well. Stop making excuses to friends and family on Instagram or Facebook, and go to the mountains now. Just get up, get out there and do it! No more excuses. You have until April 30 to make it happen.

The details of the trip

Day 1: We arrive at the Lone Pine Visitor Center at the intersection of HWY 395 and HWY 136 just south of Lone Pine, CA. We issued our own overnight permits to climb Mount Whitney and collected our Wag bags. You can self-issue the free permit from November 2 to April 30. Climbing during this time of year allows you to avoid all the crowds and permit lottery system in the summer. After retrieving our permits, we drove 2 miles north on HWY 395 to Lone Pine, CA and turned left/west on Whitney Portal Rd. From here we drove 7.1 to Lone Pine Campground at 6,000 feet to acclimatize. . The Campground is $20 a night and you can self cater a campsite. The campsite provides water and toilets. The camp offers a clear view of Mt. Whitney and the challenge ahead.

Day 2: We drive 6 miles from Lone Pine Campground to Whitney Portal at 8,300 feet, where the Whitney Trail begins. Whitney Portal Campground, store, and even the road may be closed this time of year. We were able to park right at the clearly marked trailhead with no snow. We put on our 45 pound packs and headed for the summit. The first 1.5 miles of the trail was clear of snow. The trail quickly gains elevation as it backs up towards Lone Pine Lake. About a mile before the lake, the trail disappears under the snow and the tracks go in all directions. This is where a good map study and GPS come in handy. If you don’t want to break a sweat or poke holes in the snow, this is a great time to strap on your snowshoes. You may only need them for a short time. You can follow the flame marks on the trees and slowly climb the mountain, or you can cut straight and save some time. Once you get to Mirror Lake, just 5 miles past Outpost Camp, you’ll want to fill up with as much water as possible, as this will be the last water you’ll be able to get to before you have to melt the snow. You’ll also want to strap on your crampons for the next steep section and keep them on until you reach Trail Camp. Continue up through the trees to the south of Mirror Lake. After leaving the tree line at about 10,200 feet, head west and keep left near frozen Consultation Lake, at the 6 mile mark on your trip. Continue 3 miles to Trail Camp at 11,800 feet and find a nice spot sheltered from the wind to spend the night. The sunset is incredible and offers an opportunity to capture a great photo.
Total: 6 hours, 6.3 miles, and 3,700 feet of positive elevation gain.

Day 3: I recommend getting up early at 530 or 6 and starting your ascent. The snow will be firm, which is good for climbing. You will also be able to capture amazing sunrise photos. This will also help you beat any overnight storms that may come your way. I recommend bringing two full 32-ounce bottles of water for the climb. From Trail Camp you have to walk up the steepest part of the trail. Head west up the slightly steep snow ramp towards Trail Crest at 13,650. You will need to understand how to properly use crampons, an ice ax, and the proper way to self-arrest in the event of a fall. A fall during this part of the trail could be fatal. Once you’ve reached the top, take a moment to soak in the majestic views of the snow-capped Western Sierras as far as the eye can see. Make sure you have wind and sun protection for this section of the trail. Continue your climb north as the trail enters Sequoia National Park and descends 150 feet to connect with the John Muir Trail. Although there may be long stretches of trail without snow, keep your crampons on! Certain sections along this 3-kilometre stretch to the summit are very icy and bordering on fatal cliffs. After about 0.5 miles into the trail, you’ll see your first glimpse of the stone hut at the top. Continue past the Needles and Mount Muir to reach the summit. Take a break at the summit hut, sign the log, and return safely. If you understand how, you can slide certain sections on the way down to make your descent faster. Once we made it safely to the Trail Camp, we removed our crampons and quickly made it to the Whitney Portal trailhead in 2 1/2 hours. We stayed at Portagee Joe Campground last night. It’s a very easy desktop publishing bootcamp for only 14 bucks. It’s only a mile from Lone Pine, so it was easy to have dinner that night and breakfast the next morning in town.

Total: 8 hours from Trail Camp to Summit Round Trip, 9.4 miles and 2,800 feet of elevation.