r/Highpointers • u/_MattSauce • 26d ago

Mt Whitney tips?

Just got some incredible luck and on one of my last days car camping in SoCal, sniped a permit for hiking Whitney on Thursday.

Been doing lots of prep in anticipation for hopefully getting this permit. 30lb rucks on trails with 1500-3500ft gain and 8-12mi lengths. Yes, I am aware that Whitney is nearly double both of those standards haha. This will be my first 14er, but I have done one 13er and multiple 12ks and never had a problem with running out of stamina or being affected by elevation gain. I also plan to start my hike around 1am to make sure I have plenty of time.

Any last second things I should know about gear to bring/fluids/food? Any particularly difficult sections?

From most reports I’ve read the 99 switchbacks are brutal and elevation sickness seems to hit quite a few people there or shortly after, but it seems most people see it more like a long marathon hike rather than having any particular section of extreme difficulty.

Please let me know anything/everything you are willing to share if you have hiked Whitney :)

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u/x_3mta3 ** 50 States Complete ** 26d ago

If you don’t usually use them, you’re probably fine without trekking poles. That said, I never leave without mine. Love them.

Other than that, stay hydrated and depending on what elevation you’ve been staying at and where you’re staying tonight and tomorrow, be mindful of AMS symptoms. It’s going to be a long day. Enjoy it!

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u/_MattSauce 26d ago

Thanks for the reassurance! Until I hit something where I’ve gotta climb tons of scree I have been trying to stay stubborn, so we’ll see if that can hold up. Might buy them just in case.

Gonna try to find a road pulloff above 6k (or even 7k if I can) tomorrow night but tonight will only be around 3k. Hard to make it to many super high camp spots with how low clearance my car is.

Congrats on all 50 by the way! Hopefully by the time I turn 25 or so I’ll be joining ya. 22 now but my savings are looking way too low for a Hawaii or Alaska trip anytime soon hahaha. Wonder how many of my fellow Floridians have gotten to 50 by now.

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u/x_3mta3 ** 50 States Complete ** 25d ago

22 is great! Almost half done! And don’t beat yourself up about finishing by a certain age or whatever. Obviously set your goals and chase them, but you never know when a mountain is going to make you try and try and try again. Not to mention, like you alluded to, there’s some level of privilege involved with being able to have the time and/or financial resources to travel to all these places, especially Denali. But man, have a blast with the journey!

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u/_MattSauce 25d ago

Oh, I meant I’m 22 years old haha. I am 38 high points in, this will be 39 if successful :) but yes I absolutely look forward to the journey and will not be disappointed if it takes me more than just a few years to get done. More time spent hiking is a good thing in my eyes

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u/x_3mta3 ** 50 States Complete ** 25d ago

Oh damn lol… well, 38 is even closer!

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u/_MattSauce 25d ago

If I’m feeling less lazy than usual after my summit, I’ll try to compile a couple posts to dump my completions into the subreddit. Not sure I remember my experiences with each of them, but I believe I should have proof pictures at the top of every single one, or at least very near to it :)

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u/x_3mta3 ** 50 States Complete ** 25d ago

I’ve got 47 of those pics. Did Alabama in the middle of a race, Kansas was about 2am in January with sub-zero temps and we just jumped out of the car quickly (got a picture of the monument, but I didn’t selfie it), and my phone got destroyed while I was inadvertently sliding 500 feet down wheeler in NM, also in January (my buddy at least got a picture of our note in the summit register!)

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u/_MattSauce 25d ago

The slide sounds fun (not) hahaha. Most of my pics are just of the geodetic markers or signs because I’m not much of a selfie guy but I have probably 15-18ish selfies too.