Inyo National Forest

Recreational Activities - Mt. Whitney

At 14,496 feet elevation, Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states. The peak lies within the John Muir Wilderness and the Sequoia National Park Wilderness. These areas were set aside by Congress and the President to provide opportunities for solitude and unconfined, primitive types of recreation. Wilderness areas are places where the earth and its communities of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.

Mt. Whitney is an extremely popular wilderness destination. To preserve its wilderness character, all who choose to visit Mt. Whitney must adhere to very high standards of conduct. Practices that are appropriate in other areas might not be acceptable at Mt. Whitney. Before you decide to visit Mt. Whitney, review the information below and commit yourself to Mt. Whitney’s high standards.

Thank you and enjoy your visit to Mt. Whitney,
Mt. Whitney Wilderness Rangers

General Conditions

4/21  Spring conditions exist in the Mt. Whitney area. Above approximately 9,000’ elevation, there is still a significant amount of snow. The trail can be located and followed up to approximately 9,500 ft (2 miles).

Be prepared for a wide range of snow conditions, including hard snow, soft snow, ice, corn, rotten snow, slush, dry snow and fresh snow. Due to the wide range of elevations, slopes and aspects, snow conditions will vary greatly along all routes. Furthermore, weather and time of day will also affect snow conditions. Typically, snow will freeze solid on clear nights, slowly thaw and become soft during the day, then re-freeze late in the afternoon or evening. When cold weather is predicted, expect hard snow and ice to persist through the day. During warm or cloudy nights, soft snow might not refreeze.

Ice axes, crampons and helmets are strongly recommended. To be of any value, these items must be used properly. All climbers should be familiar with their use, and have practical experience with them. Thus far in 2009, 1 fatality has occurred in the Mt. Whitney area as a result of a slip on frozen, icy snow. Since 2003, up to 3 deaths/year have occurred as a result of slips on snow and ice. Snowshoes or skis with climbing skins may be very helpful when traveling on soft or rotten snow.

Significant snowfall and cold weather may still occur. Obtain a weather forecast and an avalanche report before climbing. When winter storms occur, they may include extreme cold, wind and heavy snowfall.

Permits and Permit Reservations

Year-round, everybody in the Mt. Whitney Zone must possess a valid wilderness permit. Permits are issued only at the InterAgency Visitor Center, 1 mile south of Lone Pine, CA.

Follow this link for more information about obtaining wilderness permits.

Safety is Your Responsibility!

By any route, climbing Mt. Whitney is difficult and potentially dangerous. Every year visitors become sick, injured; and sometimes die. Almost all illnesses, injuries and fatalities occur on Mt. Whitney’s "easiest" routes, including the Mt. Whitney Trail and the Mountaineers Route. Relative to the number of visitors, the number of rescue missions at Mt. Whitney is disproportionately high. The following elements are recurrent factors in incidents that occur at Mt. Whitney:

• Snow and ice (significant factor in fatalities)
• Weather (significant factor in fatalities)
• Exhaustions and altitude sickness, signs and symptoms of illness are ignored (extremely common)
• Obvious hazards ignored or not recognized
• Poor judgment
• Simple stumbles and falls

Human Waste

Mt. Whitney visitors must pack-out their solid human waste. Pack-out kits are distributed with wilderness permits. Each year, Mt Whitney visitors packed out at least 6,000 lbs of human waste!

Leave No Trace at Mt. Whitney

So, you think you practice Leave-No-Trace. Can you state the Seven Principles?

Follow this link to learn how to Leave-No-Trace at Mt. Whitney.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Careful planning and preparation are essential for a safe and successful. In addition, well prepared visitors are much more likely to properly care for the areas that they visit.

Follow this link for more information about trip planning.

Bears and Proper Food Storage

From May 25 to October 31, all food, trash, toiletries and scented items must be stored containers designed to prevent access by bears. Hanging food is unacceptable and ineffective.

At Whitney Portal, all food, trash, toiletries and coolers must be removed from your vehicle and stored in bear-proof lockers. Failure to comply may result in extensive damage to your vehicle.

Follow this link for more information about bears and food storage.